Breast protective garment

Abstract

A universal breast protective garment for significantly reducing impact forces to the breasts is formed of one or more elastomeric materials and is structured and configured to adjustably fit around a woman's upper torso. Left and right breast pockets are formed on a front chest portion between outer and inner layers of soft elastomeric material (e.g., neoprene) and comfortably surround and configure to the wearer's breasts. Each pocket has an opening for inserting and removing a protective breast cup assembly that includes an inner cup formed of a compressible elastomeric polymer for absorbing and dissipating impact forces, and an outer shell formed of a semi-rigid polymeric material for deflecting impact forces and resisting pinching and squeezing. Shoulder straps, side panels and other areas of the garment are adjustable to accommodate a range of body and breast sizes and to enable proper fit on the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A universal breast protective garment comprising:
 a front chest panel having a left portion and a right portion;   a back panel;   adjustable shoulder straps extending between and connecting to the front chest panel and the back panel;   left and right front side flaps extending from the respective left and right portions of the front chest panel;   left and right rear side flaps extending from the back panel for releasable and adjustable attachment to the corresponding left and right front side flaps;   left and right pockets formed in the respective left and right portions of the front chest panel, and said pockets being sized and positioned for overlying and conforming to configuration of the left and right breasts of the wearer when the garment is worn on the wearer, and the left and right pockets each including a pocket opening; and   left and right protective breast cup assemblies on the respective left and right portions of the front chest panel each comprising:
 an outer shell formed of a compressible polymeric material having full elastic memory and having a first degree of hardness for deflecting impact forces and resisting pinching and squeezing forces; 
 an inner cup sized and configured for nested receipt within the outer shell and the inner cup formed of a compressible elastomeric polymer having full elastic memory and having a hardness of a second degree that is less than the hardness of the outer shell; and 
 the left and right pockets on the front chest panel being sized, structured and configured for removable receipt of the respective left and right protective breast cup assemblies therein so that the left and right protective breast cup assemblies align with and cover the breasts of the wearer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a breast adjustment structure for adjusting, moving and holding the left and right portions of the front chest panel relative to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 2  wherein the breast adjustment structure selectively moves and holds the pockets and the left and right protective breast cup assemblies closer together or further apart through a range of adjusted positions. 
     
     
         4 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 3  wherein the breast adjustment structure includes at least one drawstring between the left and right pockets. 
     
     
         5 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 4  wherein the drawstring has a spring loaded fastener for holding the drawstring at a selected adjusted position throughout the range of adjusted positions. 
     
     
         6 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 1  wherein the garment is at least partially constructed of neoprene. 
     
     
         7 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 6  wherein the left and right portions of the front chest panel include an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material with the pockets formed therebetween. 
     
     
         8 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 7  wherein the inner layer of material and the outer layer of material are formed of an elastomeric breathable material. 
     
     
         9 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first degree of hardness of the outer shell ranges between 20-75 as measured by a TECLOCK durometer, model JS S 6050. 
     
     
         10 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 9  wherein the second degree of hardness of the inner cup ranges between 20-55, as measured by a TECLOCK durometer, model JS S 6050. 
     
     
         11 . A universal breast protective garment comprising:
 a front chest panel having a left portion and a right portion;   a back panel;   shoulder straps extending between and connecting to the front chest panel and the back panel;   left and right pockets formed in the respective left and right portions of the front chest panel, and said pockets being sized and positioned for overlying and conforming to configuration of the left and right breasts of the wearer when the garment is worn on the wearer, and the left and right pockets each including a pocket opening; and   left and right protective breast cup assemblies on the respective left and right portions of the front chest panel each comprising:
 an outer shell formed of a compressible polymeric material having full elastic memory and having a first degree of hardness for deflecting impact forces and resisting pinching and squeezing forces; 
 an inner cup sized and configured for nested receipt within the outer shell and the inner cup formed of a compressible elastomeric polymer having full elastic memory and having a hardness of a second degree that is less than the hardness of the outer shell; and 
 the left and right pockets on the front chest panel being sized, structured and configured for removable receipt of the respective left and right protective breast cup assemblies therein so that the left and right protective breast cup assemblies align with and cover the breasts of the wearer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a breast adjustment structure for adjusting, moving and holding the left and right portions of the front chest panel relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 12  wherein the breast adjustment structure selectively moves and holds the pockets and the left and right protective breast cup assemblies closer together or further apart through a range of adjusted positions. 
     
     
         14 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 13  wherein the breast adjustment structure includes at least one drawstring between the left and right pockets. 
     
     
         15 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 4  wherein the drawstring has a spring loaded fastener for holding the drawstring at a selected adjusted position throughout the range of adjusted positions. 
     
     
         16 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 11  wherein the garment is at least partially constructed of neoprene. 
     
     
         17 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 16  wherein the left and right portions of the front chest panel include an inner layer of material and an outer layer of material with the pockets formed therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 17  wherein the inner layer of material and the outer layer of material are formed of an elastomeric breathable material. 
     
     
         19 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 11  wherein the first degree of hardness of the outer shell ranges between 20-75 as measured by a TECLOCK durometer, model JS S 6050. 
     
     
         20 . The universal breast protective garment as recited in  claim 19  wherein the second degree of hardness of the inner cup ranges between 20-55, as measured by a TECLOCK durometer, model JS S 6050.