A sports bra has base and cover layers of four-way stretchable material providing a first level of radial compression to the torso, a wide elastic band gripping the midriff to resist rotational and vertical motion of the bra relative to the torso and crisscrossed bands of elastic material spanning the back portion of the bra. Laterally-stretchable, vertically-shape-retaining foam panels overlap the base layer to support the breasts from below and power-mesh is sandwiched between the base and cover layers to increase radial compression of the breasts from above. The components all cooperate to limit bounce of the breasts during vigorous physical activity by the wearer. Adjustable shoulder straps and a zippered front are optional.
1. A sports bra comprising:
a base layer of four-way stretchable material contoured to snugly contain a portion of a woman's torso extending upwardly from a horizontal midriff plane of the bra to an ovate neckline of the bra;
a cover layer of four-way stretchable material co-extensive with and fixed along its perimeter to said base layer;
a horizontal band of elastic material sandwiched between said base and cover layers along said midriff plane of the bra, said horizontal band having a contracted length suitable to securely grip the midriff of the torso of the woman; and
a segment of power-mesh material sandwiched between said base and cover layers, fixed along its perimeter to said cover layer and contoured to compress upper portions of the breasts of the torso of the woman,
said base and cover layers, said horizontal band and said segment of power-mesh material being co-operable to limit vertical bounce of the breasts of the torso of the woman during physical activity of a wearer.
2. A sports bra according to claim 1 , said base and cover layers of material comprising at least 60% nylon fibers and at least 10% spandex fibers, said power mesh material comprising at least 60% nylon fibers and at least 25% spandex fibers, and said power mesh material comprising a greater percentage of spandex fibers than said base and cover layers of material.
3. A sports bra according to claim 2 , said base and cover layers comprising 80% nylon fibers and 20% spandex fibers and said power-mesh material comprising 67% nylon fibers and 33% spandex fibers.
4. A sports bra according to claim 1 , a front of said bra having a vertical, centered separation from said neckline to said horizontal midriff plane of the bra, the bra further comprising a zipper for opening and closing said separation.
5. A sports bra according to claim 1 further comprising two bands of elastic material crisscrossed and sandwiched between back-spanning portions of said base and cover layers and fixed along their perimeters to said cover layer with each said band extending from said ovate neckline through an intersection of said crisscrossed bands to a corresponding point of intersection thereof with said horizontal band, said crisscrossed bands of elastic material being further co-operable with said base and cover layers and said horizontal midriff band to limit vertical bounce of the breasts of the torso of the woman during physical activity of a wearer.
6. A sports bra according to claim 5 , said crisscrossed bands being in a range 2″+¼″ wide.
7. A sports bra according to claim 5 further comprising two shoulder straps, one said shoulder strap extending between said segment of power-mesh material and a corresponding one of said two crisscrossed bands, whereby said shoulder straps are co-operable with said base and cover layers, said horizontal midriff band and said crisscrossed bands to limit vertical bounce of the breasts of the torso of the woman during physical activity of a wearer.
8. A sports bra according to claim 7 , each said shoulder strap comprising any one of:
a. an extension of any one of said base and cover layers;
b. an extension of any one of said base and cover layers backed by a soft segment of material; and
c. a soft segment of material.
9. A sports bra according to claim 8 , each said shoulder strap further comprising a buckle and hook-and-loop segment co-operable to permit adjustment of a length of said strap.
10. A sports bra according to claim 1 further comprising a panel of laterally-stretchable and vertically-shape-retaining foam, said panel being contoured to support an underside of the breasts of the torso of the woman, said panel overlaying said base layer and extending upwardly from an upper edge of said horizontal band and being fixed at lower and side perimeters thereof to said base layer, whereby said panels provide support for corresponding breasts of the torso of the woman, said panels being further co-operable with said base and cover layers and said horizontal midriff band of the bra to limit vertical bounce of the breasts during physical activity of a wearer.
11. A sports bra according to claim 1 , said horizontal midriff band being in a range of 3″+¼″ wide.
12. A sports bra comprising:
a base layer of four-way stretchable material contoured to snugly contain a portion of a woman's torso extending upwardly from a horizontal midriff plane of the bra to an ovate neckline of the bra;
a cover layer of four-way stretchable material, said cover layer being co-extensive with said base layer;
a horizontal band of elastic material sandwiched between said base and cover layers at said horizontal midriff plane of the bra, said horizontal band having a contracted length suitable to securely grip the midriff of the woman's torso;
two panels of laterally-stretchable and vertically shape-retaining foam, each said panel being contoured to support an underside of a corresponding breast of the woman's torso, each said panel overlaying said base layer, extending upwardly from an upper edge of said horizontal band and fixed at lower and side perimeters thereof to said base layer, whereby said panels provide support for corresponding breasts of the woman's torso;
a segment of power-mesh material sandwiched between said base and cover layers, fixed along its perimeter to said cover layer and contoured to compress the upper portions of the breasts of the woman's torso;
two bands of elastic material crisscrossed and sandwiched between torso-back portions of said base and cover layers fixed along their perimeters to said cover layer, each said band extending from said ovate neckline of the bra through an intersection of said crisscrossed bands to a corresponding point of intersection with said horizontal midriff band of the bra;
said base and cover layers, said horizontal midriff band, said crisscrossed bands, said foam panels and said power-mesh material being co-operable to limit vertical bounce of the breasts of the woman's torso during physical activity of a wearer.
13. A sports bra according to claim 12 , said base and cover layers of material comprising at least 60% nylon fibers and at least 10% spandex fibers, said power mesh material comprising at least 60% nylon fibers and at least 25% spandex fibers, and said power mesh material comprising a greater percentage of spandex fibers than said base and cover layers of material.
14. A sports bra according to claim 13 , said base and cover layers comprising 80% nylon fibers and 20% spandex fibers and said power-mesh material comprising 67% nylon fibers and 33% spandex fibers.
15. A sports bra according to claim 12 , a front of said bra having a vertical, centered separation from said ovate neckline of the bra to said horizontal midriff plane of the bra, the bra further comprising a zipper for opening and closing said separation.
16. A sports bra according to claim 12 further comprising two shoulder straps, one said shoulder strap extending between said segment of power-mesh material and a corresponding one of said two crisscrossed bands, whereby said shoulder straps are co-operable with said base and cover layers, said horizontal midriff band and said crisscrossed bands to limit vertical bounce of the breasts of the woman's torso during physical activity of a wearer.
17. A sports bra according to claim 16 , each said shoulder strap comprising any one of:
a. an extension of any one of said base and cover layers;
b. an extension of any one of said base and cover layers backed by a soft segment of material; and
c. a soft segment of material.
18. A sports bra according to claim 17 , each said shoulder strap further comprising a buckle and hook-and-loop segment co-operable to permit adjustment of a length of said strap.
19. A sports bra according to claim 12 , said horizontal midriff band being in a range of 3″+¼″ wide and said crisscrossed bands being in a range of 2″+¼″ wide.
20. A sports bra comprising:
a horizontal band of elastic material having a contracted length suitable to permit said band to securely grip a woman's midriff;
a segment of power-mesh material sized and contoured to apply a first level of radial compression to upper portions of the woman's breasts; and
at least one layer of four-way stretchable material extending upwardly from said horizontal band and connecting said horizontal band to said segment of power-mesh material, said at least one layer being sized and contoured to snugly contain a portion of the woman's torso therein and apply a second level of radial compression less than said first level of radial compression to the portion of the woman's torso contained therein,
said horizontal band, said segment of power-mesh material and said at least one layer being co-operable to limit vertical bounce of the woman's breasts during physical activity of the woman.