Supportive undergarment and sports bra system

Abstract

A supportive undergarment configured to restrain movement of breast tissue in the superior direction is provided. The undergarment is configured to be used in conjunction with a conventional bra, especially an underwire-containing sports bra, without unnecessarily duplicating the support provided by the bra. The undergarment comprises a pair of supporting straps that are releasably anchored to the undergarment's lower circumscribing band via at least one anchor member. The supporting straps are configured to provide compression to the wearer's upper breast roots and arrest upward movement of the wearer's breasts.

1 . A supportive undergarment for restraining breast movement comprising:
 a front panel comprising a pair of breast-receiving sections;   a lower band positioned below the pair of breast-receiving sections;   at least one anchor member affixed to the front panel in between the pair of breast-receiving sections; and   a pair of support strap sections, each of the pair of support strap sections having an end that is fixed to the front panel, the pair of support strap sections being connectable to the at least one anchor member under tension.   
     
     
         2 . The supportive undergarment of  claim 1 , the front panel comprising a pair of chest segment extending directly above the pair of breast-receiving sections. 
     
     
         3 . The supportive undergarment of  claim 2 , the front panel comprising a pair of shoulder straps that extend upwardly from the pair of chest segments. 
     
     
         4 . The supportive undergarment of  claim 3 , the front panel further comprising a medial segment that extends between the pair of breast-receiving sections. 
     
     
         5 . The supportive undergarment of  claim 4 , wherein each support strap section is movable between a first configuration in which the support strap section engages a corresponding chest segment of the pair of chest segments and engages the medial segment, and a second configuration in which the support strap section does not engage the corresponding chest segment and does not engage the medial segment. 
     
     
         6 . A system for restraining movement of breast tissue comprising:
 a bra comprising a pair of cups and configured to provide support to the lateral sides and undersides of a wearer's breasts and restrain lateral and downward movement thereof; and   the supportive undergarment of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the front panel provides less support to the lateral sides and undersides of the wearer's breasts than does the bra. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the supportive undergarment does not alter the shape given to the wearer's breasts by the bra. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bra comprises an underwire associated with each cup. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lower band is configured to be worn below the bra underwires. 
     
     
         11 . A method of restraining movement of breast tissue comprising:
 donning a supportive undergarment over or underneath a bra, the supportive undergarment comprising:
 a front panel comprising a pair of breast-receiving sections; 
 a lower band positioned below the pair of breast-receiving sections; 
 at least one anchor member affixed to the front panel in between the pair of breast-receiving sections; and 
 a pair of support strap sections, each of the pair of support strap sections having an end that is fixed to the front panel, the pair of support strap sections being connectable to the at least one anchor member under tension; 
   extending the supportive strap sections over the upper portions of the wearer's breasts; and   anchoring the supportive strap sections to the at least one anchor member while the supportive strap sections are under tension thereby providing compression to the upper portions of the wearer's breasts.