GB2262041A - Breast prosthesis or enhancer - Google Patents

Abstract

An inexpensive, externally worn breast enhancer, which is comfortable to wear and moves in a manner simulating a real breast comprises a fluid-filled envelope of impermeable flexible material, such as polyurethane sheet. The fluid 20, which should have a density similar to that of a human body, may be saline. The envelope consists of a rear membrane 14, which is of a flat or dished shape to fit snugly to the body of the user, sealed around its periphery 16 to a front membrane 12, which has a dished or cone-like configuration to simulate the desired breast size of the user. A valve or stopper (28, Fig 4) to allow filling and removal of fluid may be provided in or near the centre of the rear membrane. <IMAGE>

Description

BREAST PROSTHESIS OR ENHANCER This invention concerns a device, intended for external placement on the body of a user, to simulate a breast, for example in cases where a breast has been lost through mastectomy or where a man wishes to make himself look like a woman, or to enhance the size of a breast in cases where a woman is dissatisfied with the size of her breasts and wishes to have them enlarged.

Various types of external padding or wadding are known, some connected inside or otherwise incorporated into brassieres, for simulation or size enhancement of one or both breasts. Many of these have disadvantages that they are uncomfortable to wear, sometimes because they make the user too warm, and/or do not look or feel natural.

Internal implants are also known comprising sealed envelopes filled with a fluid, such as silica gel, under slight pressure. These are expensive to have fitted, as a surgical procedure is involved, and there is a risk of failure subsequent to implantation, which can lead to unpleasant medical problems. Many people do not make use of implants for one or both of these reasons.

Furthermore, in most cases the possible breast size or breast size increase which could be achieved by use of an implant is limited, for medical reasons, by permissible displacement of adjacent tissue, and may not fulfil what is desired by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a breast prosthesis or enhancer which is relatively inexpensive, is easy and comfortable to wear, naturallooking, and can be made available in any size to suit the user.

According to the invention, a breast prosthesis or enhancer is provided which comprises a hermetically sealed envelope of impermeable flexible sheet material filled substantially completely with a fluid of similar density to a human body, the envelope having a rear membrane or membrane portion of a shape adapted to fit snugly to the body of a user, and a front membrane or membrane portion shaped to a specific dished or conelike configuration to simulate any selected breast contour.

More specifically, the envelope of the prosthesis or enhancer of the invention may consist of separate overlying front and rear membranes, each of general circular form, and each appropriately shaped in front to rear direction, which are sealed to each other around their peripheral margins. Such membranes will usually be of substantially identical circumference.

Alternatively, it is possible that the envelope may consist of front and rear membrane portions, i.e. be formed from a single piece of material with respective portions integrally joined along a short edge section and sealed in overlying relation around the remainder of their edge margins.

Where the device is to simulate an entire breast, i.e.

in cases where it is to replace a removed breast or is for use by a man, the rear membrane or membrane portion may be substantially flat, i.e. remain without any specific shaping, when that is appropriate for corresponding with the body contour of the user against which the device, in use, is to lie.

Where the device is to enhance the size of a female breast, i.e., to be worn thereover, the rear membrane or membrane portion will be shaped to the cup size of the pre-existing breast.

The front membrane or membrane portion will in all cases be shaped to the desired cup size of the user.

It is envisaged that the device will be made available or made to order in a wide range of sizes, specifying standard cup sizes of rear and front membranes or membrane portions.

The volume of fluid used inside the envelope should then be matched to the available internal space. It is intended that the fluid completely fill the space, without being under pressure. The volume to be used in any particular case can be calculated by subtracting the volume corresponding to the cup size of the front membrane or membrane portion from that of the rear membrane or membrane portion. For example if enhancement from an A cup size to a D cup size is required, the front membrane will be of D cup, the rear membrane of A cup and the volume of fluid used will be the difference between D and A cup. Within the normally expected range of sizes of the device of the invention, i.e. to cover cup sizes from 36A to 40FF, the volume of fluid would range from as little as 300cm3 up to 1200cm3.

Suitable material for the envelope is clear polyurethane, and a suitable thickness of that is O.2mm to 0.4mm. However, other materials and thicknesses are perfectly possible. The fluid inside the envelope might simply be a saline solution. Silica gel could be used, but would be more expensive.

Advantageously, a valve or stopper may be provided substantially centrally of the rear membrane or membrane portion of the envelope. This facilitates filling of the envelope with fluid during manufacture, and makes it easier to eliminate air bubbles. It also allows the user to adjust the size of the device to a limited extent, by removal of a small volume of liquid through the valve or stopper, or by addition thereto, e.g. of cooled boiled water. Since polyurethane allows water vapour to pass therethrough, when this material is used for the envelope, the volume of fluid therein will inevitably decrease over a period of time and will need to be periodically topped up via the valve to maintain a good fit. Any commercially available good quality valve or stopper may be used, for example a valve of the type customarily used for air beds and inflatable buoyancy aids.

To enable the invention to be fully understood and implemented two specific embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic section illustrating a first embodiment of an enhancer in accordance with the invention when in use; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the enhancer of Fig. 1;.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic section illustrating a second embodiment of an envelope of an enhancer in accordance with the invention prior to filling with fluid; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the enhancer of Fig. 3 when in use.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is for enhancement of female breast size and comprises front and rear polyurethane sheet membranes 12, 14, which overlie each other and are sealed around their edge margins, as at 16, to provide an envelope which is filled with a salt solution (NaCl) 20. The membranes 12, 14 have substantially equal circular external peripheries, but are differently shaped inwardly thereof. In this respect, the rear membrane 14 is shaped to match the cup size of the user's breast B, while the front membrane 12 is more extensively deformed, being shaped to the desired cup size of the user.

Deformation of the front and rear membranes 12, 14 to produce the required dished breast cup shapes is accomplished in production by heated moulding of preexisting circular membranes, to stretch and shape the latter. The front and rear shaped membranes can then be heat sealed around their periphery by means of a heated circular press with the salt solution 20 in place therebetween. In this respect, the front membrane will be placed in a dish shaped trough or receptacle and filled with saline and the rear membrane will then be placed thereover and sealed thereto by the press.

Alternatively, a small gap may be left unsealed between the front and rear membranes for subsequent injection of the solution and final sealing off.

In use, a pair of such enhancers can simply be held in place by a brassiere 18 of the desired cup size of the user.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is also for enhancement of female breast size and comprises front and rear polyurethane sheet membranes 22, 24, which overlie each other and are sealed around their edge margins, at 26, to provide an envelope which is filled with a salt solution (NaC1) 30. As in the first embodiment, the membranes 22, 24 have substantially equal circular external peripheries, but are differently shaped inwardly thereof, the rear membrane 24 being shaped to match the cup size of the user's breast D, while the front membrane 22 is more extensively deformed, being shaped to the desired cup size of the user.

Deformation of the front and rear membranes 12, 14 to produce the required dished breast cup shapes is accomplished in production by heated moulding of preexisting circular membranes, to stretch and shape the latter. A valve or stopper 28 is fitted substantially centrally of the rear membrane 24, a flange 27 thereof being sealed around an opening provided in said membrane 24. The body of the stopper 28 comprises a proximal wide diameter portion 21, a distance narrow diameter portion 23 and a plug 25 for fitting into the mouth of the narrow diameter portion 23. The plug 25 is integrally connected to the portion 23, as is conventional, by a flexible strap 29. Initially, the body of the stopper 28 protrudes to the rear of the rear membrane 24, as shown in Fig. 3. The front and rear shaped membranes can then be heat sealed around their periphery by means of a heated circular press.

The central chamber of the envelope can then be filled with salt solution via the valve or stopper 28, which is then closed by the plug 25 and everted into the central chamber, in conventional manner by folding of the stopper body at the junctions between the flange 27 and the wide diameter portions 21, and between the narrow and wide diameter portion 21, 23 as the former fits inside the latter. The final configuration is shown in Fig. 4. As mentioned, the valve 28 can be pulled outwards again and opened to allow the user to add or remove fluid, as desired, to achieve the best fit.

Again, in use a pair of such enhancers can simply be held in place by a brassiere 18 of the desired cup size of the user.

Preliminary tests have shown that enhancers of the types described and illustrated are extremely comfortable to wear. In this respect, they fit exactly to the shape of the existing breast, they rapidly attain the same temperature as the body of the user, and they are flexible and move in accordance with other body movements. In view of the latter attributes they also look more natural and thus give the user more confidence than previous types of textile or similar padding. Since the polyurethane used is transparent, the enhancers should not be apparent to anyone other than the user even when only a lace brassiere is worn thereover.

The foregoing details of two specific embodiments are only given by way of example and are not to be considered limiting. Variations in the materials and production methods are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, as mentioned in the earlier part of the description, when the said device is to be used as a complete replacement for a breast, i.e. a full breast prosthesis, the rear membrane may not be dish shaped at all and may be substantially flat or even outwardly dished, whatever is necessary to fit to the contour of the user's body.

Claims (9)

1. A breast prosthesis or enhancer comprising a hermetically sealed envelope of impermeable flexible sheet material filled substantially completely with a fluid of similar density to a human body, the envelope having a rear membrane or membrane portion of a shape adapted to fit snugly to the body of a user, and a front membrane or membrane portion shaped to a specific dished or cone-like configuration to simulate any selected breast contour.

2. A prosthesis or enhancer as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the envelope consists of separate overlying front and rear membranes, each of general circular form, and each appropriately shaped in front to rear direction, which are sealed to each other around their peripheral margins.

3. A prosthesis or enhancer as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the envelope is formed from a single piece of material with respective front and rear membrane portions integrally joined along a short edge section and sealed in overlying relation around the remainder of their edge margins.

4. A prosthesis or enhancer as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a valve or stopper is provided substantially centrally of the rear membrane or membrane portion of the envelope.

5. A prosthesis or enhancer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the envelope is made of polyurethane of a thickness in the range from 0.2mm to 0.4mm.

6. A prosthesis or enhancer as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fluid inside the envelope is a saline solution.

7. A breast prosthesis as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rear membrane or membrane portion is substantially flat.

8. A breast enhancer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rear membrane or membrane portion is shaped to the cup size of a pre-existing breast.

9. A breast prosthesis or enhancer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.