Upper-torso support garment
An upper-torso support garment includes an outer layer and an inner layer that together define interlayer compartments for retaining objects such as breast pumps or prosthetics. A material extension spans between middle regions of the outer and inner layers from a neck-opening edge to a torso-opening edge, creating separate chambers and providing increased volume and retention. The outer layer includes paired breast-covering portions and a lower elastic section secured to an underband, while the inner layer includes aligned breast-covering portions with openings sized to receive a pump flange. Combinations of elastomeric, mesh, spacer-knit, and molded textile panels impart elasticity, support, breathability, and comfort suitable for everyday wear and physical activity.
1 . A support garment comprising:
a front portion having a neck opening edge and a torso opening edge, the front portion comprising:
an outer layer having a first breast-covering portion, a second breast-covering portion, and a first middle region positioned between the first breast-covering portion and the second breast-covering portion;
an inner layer positioned internal to the outer layer, the inner layer having a third breast-covering portion, a fourth breast-covering portion, and a second middle region positioned between the third breast-covering portion and the fourth breast-covering portion; and
a material extension extending outward between the first middle region and the second middle region, wherein the material extension is a panel of textile material comprising and extending from a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge is affixed to the outer layer, the second side edge is affixed to the inner layer, and wherein the material extension extends between the first side edge and the second side edge to provide a volume between the outer layer and the inner layer configured to separate the third breast-covering portion from the fourth breast-covering portion.
2 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein the first side edge is affixed to the first middle region and the second side edge is affixed to the second middle region, the material extension further comprising a top edge extending between, and spacing apart, the first side edge and the second side edge.
3 . The support garment of claim 2 , wherein the material extension comprises a width extending between the first side edge and the second side edge.
4 . The support garment of claim 3 , wherein the width is in a range of about 1 in. to about 4 in.
5 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the material extension is offset below the neck opening edge by an offset distance.
6 . The support garment of claim 5 , wherein the offset distance is in a range of about 1 in. to about 6 in.
7 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein each of the third breast-covering portion and the fourth breast-covering portion includes an opening configured to receive a portion of a breast pump.
8 . The support garment of claim 7 , wherein each of the openings comprises a medial edge and wherein at least a portion of the medial edge is straight.
9 . The support garment of claim 8 , wherein at least the portion is substantially perpendicular to a top edge of an underband.
10 . The support garment of claim 9 , wherein the top edge of the underband comprises at least a portion of an edge of each of the openings.
11 . The support garment of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a first mesh textile having a first set of material properties and a second mesh textile having a second set of material properties, the second set of material properties being different from the first set of material properties.
12 . The support garment of claim 11 , wherein the outer layer comprises two or more different textile layers.
13 . The support garment of claim 12 , wherein the two or more different textile layers comprises an inner layer comprising a spacer knit textile, a middle layer comprising a mesh textile, and an outer layer comprising an elastomeric textile.
14 . The support garment of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the two or more different textile layers comprises a molded portion, which is at least partially circumscribed by a shoulder that transitions between the molded portion and a non-molded portion.
15 . The support garment of claim 14 , wherein an outermost layer of the two or more different textile layers does not comprise a molded portion.
16 . A support garment comprising:
a front portion having a neck opening edge and a torso opening edge, the front portion comprising:
an outer panel and an inner panel positioned internal to the outer panel, wherein each of the outer panel and the inner panel comprises a first breast covering portion, a second breast covering portion, and a middle region between the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion;
the outer panel comprising a plurality of textile layers that are affixed to one another, the plurality of textile layers comprising a first textile layer and a second textile layer, the second textile layer being positioned between the first textile layer and the inner panel;
the second textile layer comprising a molded concave portion oriented towards the inner panel, wherein the first textile layer does not include a corresponding molded concave portion;
a material extension extending outward between the middle region of the outer panel and middle region of the inner panel, wherein the material extension is a panel of textile material comprising and extending from a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge is affixed to the outer panel, the second side edge is affixed to the inner panel, and wherein the material extension extends between the first side edge and the second side edge to provide a volume between the outer panel and the inner panel; and
the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion of the inner panel each comprise an opening configured to receive a portion of a breast pump.
17 . The support garment of claim 16 , wherein the outer panel further comprises a third textile layer positioned between the first textile layer and the second textile layer.
18 . The support garment of claim 17 , wherein the molded concave portion is a first molded concave portion, and wherein the third textile layer comprises a second molded concave portion corresponding with the first molded concave portion.
19 . The support garment of claim 16 , wherein the second textile layer comprises a spacer knit textile.
20 . The support garment of claim 16 , wherein the molded concave portion aligns with the opening of the first breast covering portion of the inner panel.
21 . The support garment of claim 16 , wherein the inner panel comprises a first mesh textile having a first set of material properties and a second mesh textile having a second set of material properties, the second set of material properties being different from the first set of material properties.
22 . A support garment comprising:
a front portion having a neck opening edge and a torso opening edge, the front portion comprising:
an outer panel and an inner panel positioned internal to the outer panel, wherein each of the outer panel and the inner panel comprises a first breast covering portion, a second breast covering portion, and a middle region between the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion;
the inner panel comprising a first mesh textile having a first set of material properties and a second mesh textile having a second set of material properties, the second set of material properties being different from the first set of material properties, wherein the second mesh textile is positioned between the first mesh textile and the outer panel;
a material extension extending outward between the middle region of the outer panel and middle region of the inner panel, wherein the material extension is a panel of textile material comprising and extending from a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge is affixed to the outer panel, the second side edge is affixed to the inner panel, and wherein the material extension extends between the first side edge and the second side edge to provide a volume between the outer panel and the inner panel; and
the first breast covering portion and the second breast covering portion of the inner panel each comprise an opening configured to receive a portion of a breast pump.
23 . The support garment of claim 22 , wherein a difference between the first set of material properties and the second set of material properties comprises at least one of a different yarn compositional material, a different yarn denier, a different mesh aperture size, a different stitch type, and a different stitch size.
24 . The support garment of claim 22 , wherein the outer panel comprises two or more different textile layers.
25 . The support garment of claim 24 , wherein the two or more different textile layers comprises an innermost layer comprising a spacer knit textile, a middle layer comprising a third mesh textile that is a same mesh textile as the second mesh textile, and an outermost layer comprising an elastomeric textile.
26 . A support garment comprising:
a front portion having a neck opening edge and a torso opening edge, the front portion comprising:
an outer panel having a first breast-covering portion, a second breast-covering portion, and a first middle region positioned between the first breast-covering portion and the second breast-covering portion;
an inner panel positioned internal to the outer panel, the inner panel having a first opening, a second opening, and a second middle region positioned between the first and the second openings; and
a material extension connecting the first middle region and the second middle region, wherein the material extension is a panel of textile material comprising and extending between a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first side edge is affixed to the outer panel and the second side edge is affixed to the inner panel, and wherein the material extension extends between the first side edge and the second side edge to provide a volume between the outer panel and the inner panel.
27 . The support garment of claim 26 , wherein the first side edge is affixed to the first middle region and the second edge is affixed to the second middle region, the material extension further comprising a top edge extending between, and spacing apart, the first side edge and the second side edge.
28 . The support garment of claim 26 , wherein the material extension is positioned above an underband of the support garment and below the neck opening edge.
29 . The support garment of claim 28 , wherein the material extension is not directly secured to the underband or the neck opening edge.
30 . The support garment of claim 26 , wherein the inner panel comprises a first mesh textile having a first amount of elongation and a second mesh textile having a second amount of elongation greater than the first amount of elongation at a given load.
31 . The support garment of claim 30 , wherein the first mesh textile forms an innermost skin facing surface of the inner panel and the second mesh textile forms an outer surface of the inner panel.
32 . The support garment of claim 26 , wherein the outer panel comprises two or more textile layers.
33 . The support garment of claim 32 , wherein at least one of the two or more textile layers are molded.