US2867818A - Surgical bust pad - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1959 H. G. CREAMER 2,867,818

SURGICAL BUST PAD Filed April 4, 1955 INVENTOR. A AZE/V 6. 62594162 vBY Unite A SURGICAL BUST PAD" HelenG. Creamer, Pasadena, Calif.

Application April 4, 19.55,Serial No; 499,141 16 Claims; (Cl. 3-36)? tates PatentO of this skin. Also, the type'of packing used in prior devices results in expensive and complex construction-of the'breast pad and the packing has a tendency to become contaminated after being worn.

By the present invention, a bust pad is provided in which the structural components of the pad are positioned away-from'the area of surgical operation to prevent-"irritation of the tender skin. The bustpad also" incorporates-novel packing to give the neededWeight andresiliency" to-the pad; More'particularly thebust pad consists-of a single Continuous layer in the shape 'of' a human breast, wh'ich 'layer is fabricated from foam latex, synthetic foamed plastic material orthe like and is weighted with shot-heavy sand or other finely divided substances attached tosaid layer. In-the preferred-form of'theginvention, the pad is weighted by shot which is carried within the interior of the wall of the pad at a position such that-the centerof gravity o-f'the pad'will fall at the portion of the pad lyingbelow the nipple. Thepad is covered with' a'suitable covering material, suchas silk or rayon cloth, and is inserted into the'cup of a brassiere. Because of the locationof the weight within the pad, the behavior of 'thepad in the brassiere cup will be essentiallythat of'a normal breastand the pad can be worn after a mastectomy to givea lifelike appearance. In addition, the edges of the :bustpad are shaped to conform toithe contour'oftthe chestportionsi Y surroundingthe area of'surgeryso that the pad will fit.

closely. to the body'of the:.wearer and will give. the;-ap.-. pearance of :a normal breast.

It;;is therefore an;=object-of the, PICSCl'lLil'lVBl'ltlOIlylO provide a surgical bust pad which is weighted withqheavy bust pad in the shape ofa human .breast.and comprised. ofa single layer whichis weighted.by..heavy.particles.

integral with the layer andlocated within the layer ata ice 2 position corresponding to the center of gravityf 'of a. nor: mal breast."

Another object'of the. invention is the provision; of"-'a' surgical bust padl comprised of a single continuous layer of material in thelsh'a'pe of a human breast and having the-ed'gjes ofthelayer'skinned and shaped to conformto' the. contourof the chest portion surrounding the area' of" surgery in the same'manner as would the normal human breast soth'atthe pad appears as'a continuation oft he remaining chest surface; I

[.Th'e'seand "other objects" of the invention not specifically setfo'rth above will become readily apparent from the accompanying description and drawings in which:'

Figure .1 is a projected elevational 'view showing". the" back surface. o-fthe three sections which" are secured together to" form' the surgical'bust pad.

Figure 2 is ahorizontal section 'along line 22 of Figure 1. showing the. manner in which the weight particles are made integral with each of the lower sections of. t eram 4 Figure 3 is a rearelevational view of the bust pad-with the threesections secured'together to forma single, continuous layer. inthe shape of a human breast.

Figure .4 is a front .elevational view of the bust pad illustrated in Figure 3 and showing the position of the weight'particles.'directly 'below the nipples v Figure 5 is a vertical. section along line 5-5 of Figure 4 illustrating the flexible protective covering placed completely around the pad;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section'along line 6-6 of. Figure 4' illus tratirigthe contour of the edges of. the bust pad.

' Referring to Figure" 1',"a surgical bust pad-7 isfo'rrned" from an upper section 8 and two lower sections 9' and" 10.- Each of the sections is constructed of foam rub-.- ber, butother suitable materials such as foam plastics and synthetic foam can be utilize-d for this purpose- Before the sectionshare assembled, sections 9 and -10 are split lo'ngitudinally over the areas ll and 12," 'respec--. tively. Each of the longitudinally split areas has surfaces -13 and l4' which are first coated with a rubber or other suitable flexible cement and a layer of weight particles 15 is placed on the coated surface 14. The surfaces are then pressed together to close the split. area and'the weight particles become an integral part of'the' wall of the'section. In'Figure 2, the weight particles are shown as heavy shot butsand or other heavy, finely. divided material can also be used an a second layer15v of particles can be applied to the other surface 13 beforev the'surfa'ces 13 and' 14 are sealed together in the event th'at'additional Weight'is required; Of course,a single' layer of larger shot could also be used to increase the weight. 1 The rubber cement serves to grip the weight particles-so that they'can be applied in aneven layer andalso servesto seal the surfaces 13 and'14 around the weighted particles; Because of the manner in which the particles are incorporated, they do'not distort-the 'contour 'or interferewith the texture of the pad sections' 9 and 10.?

After-thewveightparticles are incorporated,-the edges- 16;-a-nd :1=.7'of sections 9 and lit, respectively, are secured together. by. rubber-cement toform a seam l8 andbecause' these edges curve awayfrcmeach other the sections 9 and'-10,-.:whensecured together, assume a shape'sim-ilar to r.he.lower-porti-onof a normal breast. The lower edge 19.-of:section-.8 isthensecured to the'upper edges 20 and 21ofsection'9 and 10 respectively, by rubber. cement to. form a .seam 22. After. being thus secured, the upper section: assumesa shape similar. to. the upper portionof a normal breast. I

lu'forder that the bu'st'pad will fit closely-to il? body finely divided particles.

surface of the wearer, the edge 23 of section 8 and the edge 24 of section 9 are tapered so that these edges will be parallel to and abut the chest of the wearer when the sections areshapedtoform the bust pad.. Also, the edge 25 of section 10 has a portion'25' which islsir'n'ila'rly; tapered to, abut the chest of thewearer. 1Another j.portion 25'....of,edge 25fand edge 2610f section8 are tapered to a featheredge 27,at the lateral side sothat'jthesej edges rest flat against theribgca'ge, Thus, the bust pad is shaped to fit against'th'e surface contours of the, body, to simulate the shape of a normal breast; The complete. pad is encased-ina cloth cover 2.8 which conforms to the front surface of the pad and projects across the-back, of the pad. vThe covered bust. pad, canbe heldlo'osely in a brassiere cup or the cover 28 can 'be equipped with hooks orfastenersso thatthepad can be secured tothe. bras'siereQf v i 1 When the bust pad isworn ina 'brassiere the weight particles 15,'spread over the areas 11 and 12, have a center of gravity located below the nipple wherethe bust bulges naturally, so that the pad gives the appearance of a normal breast. The effect of the pad inserted in a brassiere cup is one of naturalness and tends to balance the brassiere and compensate for the weight of the re-" maining breast. The total weight of particles 15 added to the pad will norm-ally increase as the size of the pad increases.

the body surfacev around the tender ski'n resulting from the surgical operation. The cover 28 is the only portion which touches this tender area and therefore this area is kept clean and cool. While aImastectomy usually leaves the chest flat or somewhat concave, the cover 28 will easily flex to the dashed line position of Figure 5 in the event that the chest emerges from surgery somewhat convex in form. While the surgical pad is primarily designed as, a bust replacement, it can equally well be used to fit,

over a deficient breast. Because of the fact that the bust pad has an abrupt taper to edge 9 and because the edges of the bust pad do not contact the area of surgery, there is less chance of dermatitis developing. i

1 The present invention provides a novel bust pad which behaves in much the same manner as a normal breast. The pad does not contact the tender skin resulting from surgery since the pad is constructed of a single, continuous layer which can be Weighted with solid particles attached to the layer, While the pad has, been described as constructed of separate sections, the complete pad can be molded with the weight particles in the desired location. .'Also, the invention contemplatesthe .use of one or more large particles of solid material in place-of the ticle in any suitable shape, such as in plate form, could be inserted into the bust pad at a position to give the desired weight effect and the particle could be shaped to the contour of the bust pad at this position if necessary.

This particle could also be made flexible in order to give resiliency to the weighted area. Several such large; par- It is understood that the weighted areas 11 and 12 canv be varied in size and position and that the weight particles can be inserted in section 8 as well as in sections 9 and 10. For instance, each of the three sec- For instance, a single solid par- 4 from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter definedby the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A bust pad comprising a continuous layer of resilient material having an external surface formed into the shape of a human breast and a plurality of rigid, inflexible particles embedded within said layer to increase the density of said layer at any desired position, at least some of said particles being individually confined by said layer and all said particles being small enough in size to permit universal flexing at said desired position solely by relative movement between the particles:

2. A bust pad as defined in claim 1 wherein said continuous layer is formed of a plurality of sections having edge connections and extending from one another to form a single layer, one or more of said sections containing said rigid particles in the interior thereof.

, 3, A bust pad as defined in claim 2 wherein said particles are arranged in layer form in each particle containing section with the particles randomly distributed in the layer, said particles 'being positioned to place thecenter of gravity below the nipple where the human breast naturally bulges. I

4. A bust pad as defined in claim 1 wherein the edges of said layer abut the body of the wearer and said layer is contouredat the edgesto appear as the normal continuation of the body surface at the edges, said layer being 1 6. A method of weighting a bust pad constructed of a single layer of resilient material comprising splitting an area of said resilient material at the position to be weighted, placing within the split area a plurality of solid particles ofgreater density than said material and thereaftersealing the material together over the split area to re-unite the material over the split area. i 7. A method of constructing a bust pad from a plurality of sections of resilient material comprising splitting one or more of said sections, coating the split surfaces with adhesive material, applying a plurality of solid particles of greater density than said material to said coated surfaces, sealing said coated surfaces around said particles-and thereafter connecting said sections together to form said bust pad.

8. A bust pad comprising a continuous layer of resilient material having an outer surface formed into the shape of a human breast, the portion of the pad atthe lateral side having a tapered interior surface forming a small angle with the outer surface of said layer so that said layer gradually increases in. thickness from said lateral side to give the appearance of the slight curvature of a normal breast at' the lateral side, the apex of said small angle comprising a feather edge so that no abrupt change in contour occurs between thebody surface of the wearer and the pad at the lateralside. f

9. A bust pad comprising a single continuous layer of resilient material having an outer surface formed into the shape of a human breast, the edge of the pad atthe lateral'sideicomprising a tapered interior surface forming a small angle'with'the outer surface of said layer so that said layer gradually increases inthickness from said lateral side tojgivefthe appearance of the slight curvature ofja normal breasfat the lateral sidefthe remaining edges con iprisin g'- tapered edge surfaces forming angles said: outer surface larger than said sinall anglefse tha t sa idremaining edges engage the chest surfaceiover less area than. said first mentioned edge to give thefappearance of the greater curvature of a normal breast at said remaining edges, all of said edges lying against the chest surface so that said outer surface gives the appearance of the surface of a normal breast.

10. A bust pad comprising a single continuous layer of resilient material having an exterior surface formed into the shape of a human breast, said layer having a concave interior surface positioned over the breast area of the wearer, and a plurality of rigid, inflexible particles embedded in said layer at a selected location, said particles being of greater density than said resilient material in order to increase the density of said layer at the selected location, said particles being distributed over the selected location and movable relative to one another to provide for resiliency at said location.

11. A bust pad comprising a single continuous layer of resilient material having an exterior surface formed into the shape of a human breast with nipple, and a plurality of rigid particles embedded in said layer over a selected area and at least some of the particles being individually confined by said layer, said particles being of greater density than said resilient material and being disbursed over said area for movement relative to one another to retain the flexibility of the pad in said area.

12. A bust pad as defined in claim 11 wherein said rigid particles comprise shot particles, said shot particles being arranged in layer form within said area and cemented to said resilient material.

13. A bust pad as defined in claim ll wherein said area is entirely located at a position beneath the nipple on said pad so that the center of gravity of said pad corresponds to the location of the center of gravity of the human breast.

14. A bust pad comprising a continuous layer of resilient material having an exterior surface formed into the shape of a human breast, and a plurality of rigid particles inserted into said layer over a selected area, said particles being distributed in layer form over said area to increase the density thereof and to provide for flexibility of said area solely by relative movement between said particles.

15. A bust pad as defined in claim 14 wherein said layer of resilient material has a concave interior surface adjacent the breast area of the wearer, said particles being distributed in layer form between said exterior and interior surfaces.

16. A bust pad as defined in claim 14 wherein said selected area is defined by a slit in said layer closed around said particles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,788 Dennis July 30, 1912 2,066,503 Wiggers Jan. 5, 1937 2,482,297 Silverman Sept. 20, 1949 2,507,745 Wilkenfeld et a1. May 16, 1950 2,519,401 Rockwell Aug. 22, 1950 2,524,028 Bordner Oct. 3, 1950 2,719,301 Witkower Oct. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 628,155 Germany Mar. 30, 1936

Images