Compression garment

A garment for providing compressive forces to a torso, the garment comprising:

• a. an outer covering of compression fabric, including front and back portions;
• b. one or more shoulder straps for connecting said front portion of said outer covering to said back portion of said outer covering;
• c. a front panel for providing compressive support to at least a portion of the front of the torso, said front panel including at least one layer of compression fabric and having an upper edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a lower edge, and wherein said front panel is attached to said outer covering at least at said first and second side edges, and wherein said front panel is moveable relative to said front portion of said outer covering along a portion of said lower edge;
• d. a front shelf for providing upward compressive support to breast tissue, said front shelf being positioned near said lower edge of said front panel;
• and
• e. a back panel for providing compressive support to at least a portion of the back of the torso, said back panel including at least one layer of compression fabric and having a first side edge and a second side edge, and wherein said back panel is attached to said outer covering at said first and second side edges,
• wherein said at least one layer of compression fabric for said front panel has a modulus in the length dimension ranging from 1.0–2.75 pounds 430% elongation and 2.25–5.75 pounds at 60% elongation and a modulus in the width dimension ranging from 0.8–2.2 pounds at 40% elongation.

A brassiere to be worn by a woman having axillae, torso side regions and a breast region, the brassiere comprising:

• a. first and second axilla portions, each intended to be positioned proximate one of the axillae of the woman when the brassiere is properly worn, said first and second axilla portions providing a first level of compressive supptrt;
• b. a back portion intended to be positioned over the woman's back region, said back portion providing a second level of compressive support that is greater than said first level of compressive support;
• c. side portions intended to be positioned over the woman's torso side regions, said side portions providing more compressive support than said second level of compressive support;
• and
• d. a front portion intended to be positioned over the woman's breast region, said front portion providing more compressive support than said side portions.

A brassiere to be worn by a woman having an abdominal watershed and thoracic vertebrae, the bra comprising:

• a. an outer covering made from a compression fabric, said outer covering having a lower edge, wherein said outer covering is sized so that when said brassiere is properly positioned on the woman said lower edge is positioned about 1–8 cm above the woman's abdominal watershed, wherein said compression fabric has a modulas in the length dimension ranging from 0.5–1.5 pounds at 40% elongation and 1.0–2.0 pounds at 60% elongation, a modulus in the width dimension ranging from 0.2–1.0 pounds at 40% elongation and 0.5–1.6 pounds at 60% elongation, a stretch in the length dimension ranging from 160–220% and a stretch in the width dimension ranging from 120–170%;
• b. a rear closure sized to extend between said lower edge and a position in a range defined by the woman's fifth and eighth thoracic vertebrae, when the brassiere is properly positioned on the woman;
• and
• c. a front closure.

A brassiere comprising:

• a. an outer covering;
• b. a front panel for providing compressive support to breast tissue, said front panel including compression fabric and having an upper edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, and a lower edge, and wherein said front panel is attached to said outer covering at least at said first and second side edges, further wherein said front panel is moveable relative to said outer covering along a portion of said lower edge;
• and
• c. a front shelf for providing upward compressive support to breast tissue, said front shelf being positioned proximate said lower edge of said front panel,
• d. a pair of axilla gussets for retaining tissue near a wearer's axillae, each of said pair of axilla gussets having a top edge and wherein the distance between said top edge and the wearer's axilla when said garment is properly positioned on the wearer is approximately 3.5–5 cm.