The present invention relates generally to clothing, and more specifically to garments for nursing women.
A variety of garments have been developed especially to meet the needs of women who are nursing. The most common of these garments is a nursing bra, which typically has a detachable flap or opening for providing access during nursing. The nursing bra is worn beneath a blouse.
Because the nursing bra is underneath a blouse, to prepare for nursing, the woman must either raise or unbutton the blouse, and either lower the flap (if present) or move the garment so that the opening provides access to the breast. These preparations often must be performed with one hand, while at the same time holding an anxious infant. Therefore, in practice, the use of a nursing bra may be clumsy and time consuming.
A nursing garment is desired which is comfortable to wear, attractive in appearance, and provides quick and easy access for nursing.
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
The nursing tank 100 is shown in
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The external portion of the nursing bra 110 comprises the right and left shoulder straps 102 that unfasten via clips 104, 118 to expose the internal portion 110 of the nursing bra. The exemplary clips are made of plastic, but the clips may be made from a variety of other materials, such as metal. The external portion of the nursing bra 110 are visible at all times, including when the flap 106 is closed during normal wear.
While the garment 100 is being worn, the internal portion of the knit bra 110 is normally only visible when the flap 106 is in the nursing position. The internal portion may include two layers 110a, 110b of knit fabric. The first (outer) layer 110a is set closest to the tank 101 and is attached to the tank 101 at the neck seam 100ns and at the plastic front bottom clip joining point 104 that is attachable to the clip 118 of the front shoulder strap 102. The first layer 110a of the shelf bra is joined permanently to the tank 101 at right and left side seams 101ss thereof. (
The bottoms of both of the nursing layers 110a, 110b are joined to a wide elastic band 114 for comfort. The back of the shelf bra is a separate piece made of the same knit fabric with a silicone and elastic band 122 at a top edge thereof to maintain comfortable placement at the upper back when worn. The back straps have adjustable length sections 112 at right and left sides. The tank portion 101 of the body is a continuous stretch knit body that attaches at front and back straps and gives a single piece appearance.
This nursing bra tank can be worn alone or layered with other shirts/tees. The nursing openings 111 are hidden in the bra tank construction. The wearer can simply unclasp and release the fastener clip 104 from the clip 118 open the flap 106 and find the drop cup.
In some embodiments, a nursing garment comprises:
a shoulder strap having front and back ends;
an elastic chest band having front and back sections;
an inner bra layer fixedly attached at a top thereof to the shoulder strap and at a bottom thereof to the front end of the elastic chest band, the inner bra layer having an opening therein adapted to permit nursing therethrough;
a front flap having a fastener at a top thereof, the front flap coupled to the front section of the elastic chest band, the fastener of the front flap being detachably connectable to the front end of the shoulder strap, the front flap being movable to a position in which the opening of the inner bra layer is exposed; and
a tank top portion coupled to the back end of the shoulder strap, the tank top portion coupled to the fastener of the front flap, the tank top portion floating freely with respect to the elastic chest band.
In some embodiments, the inner bra layer has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the tank top portion.
In some embodiments, the inner bra layer has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the front flap.
In some embodiments, the back section of the chest band has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the flap.
In some embodiments, the chest band is fixedly attached to the front flap.
In some embodiments, the back section of the chest band is not connected directly to the shoulder strap.
In some embodiments, the front flap includes an outer bra layer and a part of the tank top portion.
In some embodiments, the garment includes a layer that serves as an outer layer of a nursing bra and as an inner layer of the front flap.
In some embodiments, a nursing garment, comprises:
a shoulder strap having front and back ends;
an elastic chest band having front and back sections;
an inner bra layer fixedly attached at a top thereof to the shoulder strap and at a bottom thereof to the front end of the elastic chest band, the inner bra layer having an opening therein adapted to permit nursing therethrough;
an outer bra layer having a fastener at a top thereof, the outer bra layer coupled to the front section of the elastic chest band, the fastener of the outer bra layer being detachably connectable to the front end of the shoulder strap, the outer bra layer being movable to a position in which the opening of the inner bra layer is exposed; and
a tank top portion coupled to the back end of the shoulder strap, the tank top portion coupled to the fastener of the outer bra layer, the tank top portion floating freely with respect to the elastic chest band.
In some embodiments, the inner bra layer has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the tank top portion.
In some embodiments, the inner bra layer has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the front flap.
In some embodiments, the back section of the chest band has two ends fixedly attached to left and right sides of the outer bra layer.
In some embodiments, the chest band is fixedly attached to the outer bra layer.
In some embodiments, the back section of the chest band is not connected directly to the shoulder strap.
In some embodiments, the outer bra layer and a part of the tank top portion form a front flap.
Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the invention should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/806,334 filed Jun. 30, 2006, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60806334 | Jun 2006 | US |