Support garment having adjustable lifting straps and cinching cup

Abstract

A support article of apparel includes a cup, a base member, a tension band, and an adjuster. The cup defines a cup volume to receive a breast, and a lower portion of the cup defines a support pocket. The base member is coupled to the cup and has a bottom edge, a side edge, and a bottom edge configured to be positioned about a portion of a torso. A tension band is coupled within the support pocket of the cup outlines a lower portion of the breast. A second end portion of the tension band extends through a pocket opening and outside of the support pocket. An adjuster is coupled to the second end portion of the tension band and configured to adjust one of a length or a tension of the tension band.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a cup defining a cup volume within which a breast can be received, a lower portion of the cup defining a support pocket;   a base member coupled to the cup, the base member having a bottom edge and a side edge, the bottom edge configured to be positioned about a portion of a torso below the breast such that the base member supports the breast within the cup, a portion of the side edge defining a portion of an arm opening;   a tension band coupled within the support pocket of the cup such that the tension band outlines a lower portion of the breast, a first end portion of the tension band coupled to the side edge of the base member, a second end portion of the tension band extending through a pocket opening and outside of the support pocket; and   an adjuster coupled to the second end portion of the tension band, the adjuster configured to adjust one of a length or a tension of the tension band.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tension band is a flexible, elastic band. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the adjuster is configured to slide along the second end portion of the tension band and engage an outer portion of the cup outlining a pocket opening to adjust the length or the tension of the tension band. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first end portion of the tension band is coupled to the portion of the side edge of the base member that defines the arm opening; and   the tension band within the support pocket conforms to a breast root of the breast.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tension band and the adjuster are configured such that increasing the tension of the tension band moves the cup and the breast within the cup volume in a direction towards a median plane of the torso. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the tension in the tension band is a first tension;   the direction is a first direction; and   the base member is coupled to a shoulder strap, the shoulder strap being adjustable to increase a second tension in the shoulder strap, the base member and shoulder strap configured such that increasing the second tension in the shoulder strap moves the base member, the cup, and the breast within the cup volume in a second direction different than the first direction.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second direction is upward with respect to the median plane. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the base member forms a first shelf angle relative to the torso when the second tension of the shoulder strap has a first value;   the base member forms a second shelf angle relative to the torso when the second tension of the shoulder strap has a second value, the second shelf angle different than the first shelf angle; and   the change in the shelf angle is independent from a change in the first tension of the tension band.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the cup is between the breast and the base member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a bottom edge of the cup fixedly coupled to the bottom edge of the base member; and   a top edge of the base member is configured to move relative to an outer surface of the cup.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the top edge of the base member and the outer surface of the cup define an opening into a base member pocket between the base member and the outer surface of the cup. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base member is a right base member, the cup is a right cup, the side edge of the right base member is a first side edge, the right base member has a second side edge opposite the first side edge, and the right cup has a side edge, the apparatus further comprising:
 a connection member that couples the second side edge of the right base member to the side edge of the right cup, the connection member including a removable fastener configured to removably couple the right base member and the right cup to a left base member and a left cup.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the tension band and the adjuster are configured such that increasing the tension of the tension band moves the cup and the breast within the cup volume in an inward direction towards a median plane of the torso; and   the connection member is configured to limit movement of the pocket opening in an outward direction away from the median plane.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the connection member includes a hook fastener and a portion of a zipper. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a cup having an inner surface, an outer surface, a side edge, and a bottom edge, the inner surface defining a cup volume within which a breast can be received;   a base member having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a side edge, the bottom edge fixedly coupled to the bottom edge of the cup, the bottom edge of the base configured to be positioned about a portion of a torso below the breast such that the base member supports the breast within the cup, the side edge of the base fixedly coupled to the side edge of the cup, the top edge of the base member being movable relative to the outer surface of the cup;   a tension band coupled to the cup such that the tension band outlines a lower portion of the breast; and   an adjuster coupled to the tension band, the adjuster configured to adjust one of a length or a tension of the tension band, the tension band and the adjuster are configured such that increasing the tension of the tension band moves the cup and the breast within the cup volume in a direction towards a median plane of the torso.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a first end portion of the tension band is coupled to at least one of the side edge of the base member or the side edge of the cup; and   a second end portion of the tension band extends through an adjustment opening defined by the cup.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the tension band is coupled within a support pocket defined by the cup, the second end portion of the tension band extending from the support pocket through the adjustment opening. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the adjuster is coupled to the second end portion of the tension band, the second end portion of the tension band being between the outer surface of the cup and the base member, the second end portion of the tension band accessible via a top opening defined by the top edge of the base member and the outer surface of the cup. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the side edge of the base member is a first side edge; and   the base member includes a second edge configured to be removably coupled to a corresponding base member about the median plane of the torso.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first cup having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, a first outboard side portion, a first inboard side portion, and a first bottom edge, the first inner surface defining a first cup volume within which a first breast of a pair of breasts can be received;   a second cup having a second inner surface, a second outer surface, a second outboard side portion, a second inboard side portion, and a second bottom edge, the second inner surface defining a second cup volume within which a second breast of the pair of breasts can be received;   a base member having a bottom edge, a first side portion, and a second side portion, the bottom edge of the base member configured to be positioned about a portion of a torso below the pair of breasts such that the base member supports the first breast within the first cup and the second breast within the second cup, the first side portion of the base member fixedly coupled to the first outboard portion of the first cup, the second side portion of the base member fixedly coupled to the second outboard portion of the second cup;   a first tension member coupled to the first cup such that the first tension member outlines a lower outboard portion of the first breast, the first tension member coupled to the first side portion of the base member, the first tension member configured to be adjusted to change a first tension of the first tension member , the first tension band configured such that increasing the first tension moves the first cup and the first breast within the first cup volume in a first inboard direction towards a mid-sagittal plane of the torso; and   a second tension member coupled to the second cup such that the second tension member outlines a lower outboard portion of the second breast, the second tension member configured to be adjusted to change a second tension of the second tension member, the second tension member configured such that increasing the second tension member moves the second cup and the second breast within the second cup volume in a second inboard direction towards the mid-sagittal plane of the torso.   
     
     
         22 - 25 . (canceled)