Patent Application
20160021939
The technical field relates generally to a garment that facilitates use of a breast pump apparatus, and more specifically, to a bandeau that positions and holds elements of breast pumping device in place for hands-free pumping or to free the woman's hands for manual pumping.
With the advent of breast pumping, a mother can reap the benefits of providing optimal nutrition to her infant, while maintaining the convenient option to bottle-feed at least on occasion.
Pumping can be accomplished using manual hand pumps, or with electric or battery-powered pumps—in either case, the process takes time. For example, a mother may pump each breast for 10-30 minutes per session. The cup (sometimes referred to as a shield or flange) that engages each breast must be held in close contact to maintain adequate suction.
Ideally, the mother will not have to hold the cup in place, nor does the entire breast shield assembly hang uncomfortably on the mother's breast as its receptacle fills with milk. Otherwise, the mother's hands are not free for other activities, such as stimulating let-down, manual pumping, or for occupying the pumping time with other activities, such as reading or using a computer.
The breast shield assembly is also ungainly in that it will not fit inside of typical top clothes or undergarments, so without a specialized garment, a mother would sacrifice modesty during pumping. This is especially problematic when the mother must pump away from home.
Such specialized garments exist, attempting to serve the dual purposes of coverage and supporting the breast shield assembly in optimal relation to the breast. However, such garments fall short in fit, comfort and adjustability. For example, a heavy reliance on snaps, zippers or hooks to securely position the cup or to provide adjustability creates discomfort in the sensitive breast area. A need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a wearable apparatus for use during breast pumping, the apparatus including a bandeau that extends around a woman's chest. The bandeau has a pair of openings that correspond to the position of the woman's breasts, and a diaphragm covering all or a portion of each opening in the bandeau. The diaphragm is for receiving and securely retaining a breast cup at least in part so that the woman's hands are free for other activities during the pumping process.
Each diaphragm is similar to a camera lens, in that it includes a plurality of panes, each pane having at least one edge that is secured along the perimeter of the opening as well as at least one free edge. The panes overlap one another, in that each free edge of one pane overlies at least a portion of another pane and underlies at least a portion of yet another pane. The free edge of each pane is also disposed at an angle with respect to the free edge of each adjacent pane and, in some embodiments, the free edge of each pane is substantially parallel to the free edge of an opposing pane. In certain embodiments, the overlapping panes have a common intersection point, which may be at the center of the opening, and which defines a variable aperture in the diaphragm. The aperture may be completely occluded by the overlapping panes, which are formed from a flexible sheet material such as stretchable fabric. As such, the aperture can be accessed by manipulating the panes at the intersection point. In other embodiments, the perimeter of the variable aperture is defined by a portion of each of the free edges of the overlapping panes, such that the variable aperture is not occluded but is instead bounded by the panes, and the extent of the aperture can be increased by manipulating the panes.
In some embodiments, the bandeau is fully adjustable to conform to the size and shape of the wearer. The primary components of the bandeau are a pair of panels, left and right, that are adjustably connectable at opposing ends by either or a combination of infinitely adjustable connectors and incrementally adjustable connectors.
In certain embodiments, a restrictive connection connects each pair of adjacent panes to one another to reinforce and control the variability of the aperture.
In certain embodiments, the diaphragm is removable, replaceable, and rotatable. For instance, the diaphragm may consist of a separable assembly of panes that are arranged in an overlapping and angular relation and secured to one another. Then, the assembly can be removably affixed to the bandeau and over the opening via a decouplable connector, such as a line of snap buttons encircling the perimeter of the diaphragm and that align with receiving snap components on the bandeau, encircling the opening. In this fashion, the user can wash diaphragms separately, or replace them altogether to maintain optimal cleanliness without over-washing the bandeau itself, and the user can rotate the diaphragm as desired. As such, the diaphragm may be formed from a different material than the bandeau, to optimize cost or performance. In fact, the diaphragm may be formed from a material that has different characteristics or properties, such as cost, elasticity, strength, opacity, thickness, weight, color, permeability, texture and the like.
The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the various embodiments, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the disclosure. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope defined by the claims.
As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary depictions of various and alternative forms. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods that are know to those having ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art.
Referring to
Referring now to
In this embodiment, as best seen in
As stated above, both the front closure 108 and the back closure 114 can releasably and preferably adjustably connect the left panel 102 and the right panel 104 together, which thereby assembles the bandeau 100. The bandeau 100 can extend around a woman's chest and is sizable to conform to a variety of sizes and shapes, particularly to fit different women or to adjust to fluctuations in weight or breast fullness of the same woman. In the example shown, this is accomplished without sacrificing comfort using a combination of infinitely adjustable connectors employing hook and loop material such as VELCRO, and incrementally adjustable connectors employing hook and bar linkages.
With reference to
As alternative means for receiving the first front connectors 116, the front closure 108 may also or additionally include one or more second front connectors 120, such as the pair of hooks disposed at the top end edge and at the bottom end edge of the right front panel 102. The second front connectors 120 couple with receiving elements 122, such as the incrementally spaced bars shown in
Referring again to
These specific closures are merely exemplary, as various alternatives are available to function as means for infinite adjustability, such as magnets or magnetic strips, reusable adhesive strips such as tacky strips or rubberized tape and the like. Similarly, numerous alternatives that function as means for incremental adjustability include sequentially spaced sets of fasteners, such as G-hooks, bra clickers, garter clips, magnetic clips, slide locks, hooks and eyes, snaps, buttons, buckles, clasps, ties, and the like. In some scenarios, it is possible to provide one male second connector 120 on one of the left panel 102 or the right panel 104 and multiple female components sequentially spaced on the other of the left panel 102 or the right panel 104, or vice versa. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a single female receiving element 122 that couples with multiple male second connectors 120.
To further increase the utility and adjustability of the bandeau 100, a pair of optional and preferably moveable and removeable straps 124 may be provided and utilized by a user. The length and position of straps 124 can also be adjusted to further increase utility and comfort.
Referring particularly to
Referring now to
In the exemplary embodiment, there are four panes 210, which are distinguished one from the other by the letters A, B, C and D. Each pane 210 is substantially semicircular, and is stitched or otherwise attached along its arcuate edge to the opening 200, with its straight edge spanning the opening 200, thereby bisecting the opening 200 in certain embodiments. Each pane 210 is disposed at a right angle with respect to each adjacent pane 210, and is at a 180 degree orientation with respect to an opposing pane 210, although the angular relations may vary with the number of panes, or as desired. In the embodiment shown, for example, pane A is secured along the top of the opening 200 (centered at 0 degrees), adjacent pane B is secured along the right side of the opening 200 (centered at 90 degrees), opposing pane C is secured along the bottom of the opening 200 (centered at 180 degrees), and pane D is secured along the left half of the opening 200 (centered at 270 degrees). The free edge 212 of pane A extends under adjacent pane B, overlies pane C and is perpendicular to the free edge 214 of pane C. The free edge 212 of pane A is also parallel to the free edge 216 of pane D. The same relative positioning applies to each of the panes A, B, C, D. The position of the pane arrangement can be rotated incrementally as desired while maintaining the angular relation of one pane 210 to the next pane 210, and the angular relationship between panes is not necessary consistent.
In certain embodiments, an optional restrictive connection 220 is also employed to restrict the ability of the panes 210 to move relative one another, thereby reinforcing the aperture 204 while still facilitating manual manipulation of the aperture to insert breast pump components. More specifically, for example, pane A may be partially connected to pane B along restrictive connection 220AB, and pane A may also be partially connected to pane C along restrictive connection 220AC. Similar restrictive connections 220 are provided to secure pane B to pane D and to secure pane C to pane D. In the exemplary embodiment, the restrictive connections 220 extend radially from the perimeter 206 toward the common intersection point C. The extent to which the restrictive connections 220 approach the common intersection point C controls the maximum extent to which the variable aperture 204 can be opened. In the examples shown, the restrictive connection 220 is a line of stitches, although other devices may be used, such as spaced tack stitches, iron-on fabric tape, and the like.
Although four panes 210 are present in the exemplary embodiment, the number of panes 210 is a design choice, as it is contemplated that alternative configurations can be selected, and that different characteristics of the application may drive the choice. In general, increasing the number of panes 210 creates a tighter variable aperture 204, and provides additional breast coverage. As described above, each pane 210 both overlaps and is overlapped by at least one other pane 210, which can be accomplished with as few as three panes 210.
The size of one or more of the panes 210 is also variable. Referring to
The shape of each pane 210 is also variable, without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example the free edge 212, 214, 216, 218 of a pane 210 need not be straight, as a curved or angled edge would not depart from the principles of the invention. It follows that the opposing secured edge of each pane 210, which is secured along line of connection 208 can have any suitable shape. Furthermore, where the opening 200 is not circular, a pane 210 may assume any suitable complementary shape.
The bandeau 100 is constructed from soft, pliable material, such as a soft fabric. Where hook and loop closures are utilized, any or all of the material is preferably capable of serving as the loop bearing surface.
Referring to
In the example shown in
As a non-limiting example, to use the bandeau 100, a woman simply connects the back closure 114, and places the straps 124 over each shoulder, with the bandeau 100 open to the front. She may then use either or both of the incrementally adjustable connectors 120 and the infinitely adjustable connectors 116 to achieve a snug and comfortable fit. Referring now to
The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations that are set forth for a clear understanding of principles. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.
