Patent Application
20220087872
The present disclosure relates generally to nursing pads. In particular, nursing pads with straps are described.
Nursing pads are protective layers designed to absorb and catch leaking breast milk while being worn by lactating women. The nursing pads are generally placed between the woman's breast and the inside of her bra. The nursing pads also protect the woman's bra and clothing from becoming wet or stained from leakage
Known nursing pads are often bulky, uncomfortable, and may be seen through clothing or dropped while inserting or removing it from the bra. Many nursing pads are fully removable, creating unhygienic conditions if the pad is accidentally dropped, or needing to be place on a surface to free the hands, or if the used nursing pad is touched. The nursing pad may also shift, fold, crumple, or bunch while worn. Not only is this uncomfortable, but the nursing pad is likely to be seen through the woman's clothing.
Thus, there exists a need for nursing pads that improve upon and advance the design of known nursing pads. Examples of new and useful nursing pads relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a nursing pad apparatus, a method for coupling the nursing pad apparatus to an article of clothing, and a method for constructing a nursing pad apparatus.
A nursing pad apparatus comprises a top surface layer comprised of a first one or more pieces of fabric. The nursing pad apparatus further includes a bottom surface layer comprised of a second one or more pieces of fabric. The nursing pad apparatus further includes a set of interior layers between the top and bottom surfaces, the set comprised of an absorbent material. The nursing pad apparatus further includes an edge comprised of a third one or more pieces of fabric, wherein the edge joins the top surface layer and the bottom surface layer to create a space. The space contains the set of interior layers.
A method for coupling a nursing pad apparatus with a fabric strap to an article of clothing may begin with looping the fabric strap of the nursing pad apparatus around a part of an article of clothing. A first end of a fastener on the fabric strap is attached to a second end of the fastener on the edge.
A method for constructing a nursing pad apparatus with a fabric strap may begin with positioning a set of interior layers between a top surface layer and a bottom surface layer. The top surface layer and the bottom surface layer are combined via an edge. A first end of the fabric strap is affixed at a first position on the edge. A first end of a fastener is affixed at a second position on the edge. At the second end of the fabric strap, on or more second ends of the fastener are affixed.
The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure.
The drawings included in the present disclosure are incorporated into, and form part of, the specification. They illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, along with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. The drawings are only illustrative of typical embodiments and do not limit the disclosure.
While the embodiments described herein are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the particular embodiments described are not to be taken in a limiting sense. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to nursing pads, and more particularly to nursing pads with straps. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to such applications, various aspects of the disclosure may be appreciated through a discussion of various examples using this context.
The disclosed nursing pads will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.
Throughout the following detailed description, a variety of nursing pad examples are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.
The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.
“Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.
“Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.
Terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.
“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.
Nursing Pads with Straps
With reference to the figures, Nursing Pads With Straps will now be described. The nursing pads discussed herein function to limit movement of the nursing pad and increase the comfort of the user while worn, and create a more hygienic process of inserting, adjusting, and removing the nursing pad. A strap attached to the nursing pad secures to an article of clothing, such a bra or tank top. Material for the exterior of the nursing pad and strap may be soft such as bias sating tate. The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed nursing pads address many of the shortcomings of conventional nursing pads.
With reference to
In some examples, the nursing pad does not include one or more features included in nursing pad 100. For example, some nursing pads 100 examples do not contain edge 140.
In other examples, the nursing pad 100 includes additional or alternative features, such as additional straps or more than one type of fastener on the nursing pad 100.
Top Surface 110
As can be seen in
Bottom Surface 120
In the example shown in
Interior Layers 130
In the example shown in
Edge 140
In the example shown in
Strap 150
In the example shown in
The strap 150 also functions to provide the user a hygienic way to touch the nursing pad 100. The user may only need to tough the strap 150 to remove the nursing pad 100, such as by pulling on the strap. This helps to prevent dropping of the pad, as it is already secured by the strap 150.
Many types of material may be used for the strap 150, such as bias satin tate. In one embodiment, a smooth material is used to reduce the likelihood of the nursing pad 100 showing through the bra and/or clothing. In one embodiment, a textured material is used to cling to the user's bra or clothing to prevent slippage of the nursing pad 100 while worn. In one embodiment, a soft and/or smooth material is used to reduce the likelihood of chafing. The strap 150 may be made from one piece of material or multiple pieces. The color of the strap 150 may be a light color, such as white or cream, to minimize the likelihood of being seen through the bra and/or clothing. In one embodiment, the color of the strap 150 is the same as the top surface 110, the bottom surface 120, and/or the edge 140. Other colors may also be used to match the user's bra and/or clothing to prevent the nursing pad 100 from showing.
Fasteners 160
In the example shown in
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/082,141, filed on 23 Sep. 2020 by Andrade, and entitled NURSING PADS WITH STRAPS, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63082141 | Sep 2020 | US |
