Brassieres for mastectomy patients

Claim 2

A mastectomy brassiere for a woman with one breast removed, comprising: an outer brassiere member having first and second forwardly projecting breast-receiving cups; a lining conforming generally to the shape of and secured to the back side of said bra by means adjacent its bottom longitudinal edge, said lining including a dual-ply first section positionable in alignment with one of said bra cups, the inner ply of said lining section having a circular opening therethrough and the outer ply of said lining section being devoid of an opening to provide a back, said first lining section forming a pocket-like receptacle; a prosthesis insert filled with stuffing and conforming in size and shape to the wearer'' s normal breast positioned in said receptacle; coacting disengageable connecting means on the upper portions of said bra and lining members, the releasable nature of said connecting means permitting the lining upper portion to be temporarily disengaged from the bra and separated therefrom to expose said circular opening in the lining inner ply, thereby permitting said prosthesis insert to be introduced therethrough into said pocket-like receptacle with a substantial portion of said insert projecting through said opening, said lining and bra upper portions being connectable again with said prosthesis projecting into the aligned bra cup.

Claim 3

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 1 wherein said lining includes a second section alignable with the other bra cup.

Claim 4

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 2 wherein said second lining section has a circular opeNing therethrough through which the wearer''s normal breast is adapted to project.

Claim 5

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 1 wherein said insert filling is formed of cotton.

Claim 6

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 1 wherein said prosthesis insert has weights therein whereby said insert conforms substantially in weight to the weight of the wearer''s normal breast.

Claim 7

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 1 wherein said prosthesis insert has means therein for adding or removing filling therefrom.

Claim 8

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means comprises an overlapped slit-like opening in the back side of said insert.

Claim 9

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 1 wherein said prosthesis insert has a laterally projecting extension formed thereon, and wherein said first lining section has a lateral extension adapted to removably receive and retain said insert extension.

Claim 10

The mastectomy brassiere recited in claim 2 wherein said lining second section is similar to said first lining section, and wherein a pair of said prosthesis inserts are installed in said brassiere for double amputee patients.

Claim 11

A mastectomy brassiere for a woman with one breast removed, comprising: an outer brassiere member having a front and back side and first and second, forwardly projecting breast-receiving cups with band elements extending laterally therefrom adapted to encircle the wearer''s back and to be releasably joined; a small bracket-engaging loop member projecting from the upper edge of each of said cups; an inner fabric lining conforming generally to the shape of and secured to the back side of said brassiere, said inner lining being secured to said brassiere adjacent its bottom edge, said inner lining including a second section positionable in alignment with one of said brassiere breast-receiving cups and having a circular opening therethrough through which the wearer''s normal breast is adapted to project, and said inner lining having a dual-ply first section positionable in alignment with the other bra cup, the inner ply of said first lining section having a circular opening therethrough through which a cotton-filled prosthesis insert is adapted to project, the outer ply of said first lining section being devoid of an opening to form a back, and there being a lateral extension on said lining section, said dual-ply first lining section providing a pocket-like receptacle; a prosthesis insert formed of fabric filled with pliable material and including a tapered body portion conforming in size and shape to the wearer''s normal breast positioned in said receptacle, there being a slit-like overlapped opening in the back of said insert body portion through which filling can be added or removed, and said insert body portion being adapted to have weights inserted therein; a laterally projecting extension formed integrally on said prosthesis insert installed in said first lining section lateral extension; a strap-retaining bracket adjacent the upper edge of each of said inner lining sections adapted to be releasably engaged with said loop members on the tops of the bra cups, the releasable nature of said brackets permitting said lining upper portion to be disengaged from said loops and temporarily separated from the bra proper to expose the circular opening in said first lining section and to permit said insert to be manually removably introduced through said opening and into the pocket-like receptacle formed by said dual-ply lining with a substantial portion of said insert body projecting through said circular opening, said lining upper portion being attachable again to the upper portion of the bra with said prosthesis projecting into the aligned bra cup.

Claim 12

A mastectomy brassiere for a woman with one breast removed, comprising: an outer brassiere member having a front and back side and first and second, forwardly projecting breast-receiving cups with band elements extending laterally therefrom adapted to encircle the wearer''s back and to be releasably joined; a small bracket-engaging loop member projecting from the upper edge of each of said cups; an inner fabric lining conforming generally to the shape of and secured to the back side of said brassiere, said inner lining being secured to said brassiere adjacent its bottom edge, said inner lining including a second section positionable in alignment with one of said brassiere breast-receiving cups and having a circular opening therethrough through which the wearer''s normal breast is adapted to project, and said inner lining having a dual-ply first section positionable in alignment with the other bra cup, the inner ply of said first lining section having a circular opening therethrough through which a cotton-filled prosthesis insert is adapted to project, the outer ply of said first lining section being devoid of an opening to form a back, and there being a lateral extension on said lining section, said dual-ply first lining section providing a pocket-like receptacle; a prosthesis insert formed of fabric filled with pliable material and including a tapered body portion conforming in size and shape to the wearer''s normal breast positioned in said receptacle, there being a slit-like overlapped opening in the back of said insert body portion through which filling can be added or removed, and said insert body portion being adapted to have weights inserted therein; a laterally projecting extension formed integrally on said prosthesis insert installed in said first lining section lateral extension; a strap-retaining bracket adjacent the upper edge of each of said inner lining sections adapted to be releasably engaged with said loop members on the tops of the bra cups, the releasable nature of said brackets permitting said lining upper portion to be disengaged from said loops and temporarily separated from the bra proper to expose the circular opening in said first lining section and to permit said insert to be manually removably introduced through said opening and into the pocket-like receptacle formed by said dual-ply lining with a substantial portion of said insert body projecting through said circular opening, said lining upper portion being attachable again to the upper portion of the bra with said prosthesis projecting into the aligned bra cup.