AU2012101782A4 - Nursing Privacy Screen - Google Patents

Abstract

-9 Abstract The present invention is a privacy screen for nursing mothers. It comprises a cloth (70) adapted in use to drape over and at least partially cover the mother's breast when feeding a baby or child. A weighted member (50) in the form of a unitary body is releasably connected to the other end of the cloth. In use, the cloth is draped over one shoulder to cover the feeding baby or breast, the other end of the cloth being passed around the neck or over the back of the mother terminated in the weighted member to maintain the cloth in its desired position.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Terri Ann Prosser Actual Inventor: Terri Ann Prosser Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: Nursing Privacy Screen Details of Associated Provisional Application No. 2011905045 (dated 04 Dec 2011) The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: File: 77207AUP00 -2 Nursing Privacy Screen Background art [0001] Breast feeding is recognised as one of the most suitable nutritional sources for babies and infants. It is actively recommended for all mothers that have the capacity to breast feed. [0002] However, there are still difficulties in some countries with breast feeding in public. Further, some mothers are still self conscious even if public breast feeding is permitted. The current generation of mothers are seeking the support of the community to respect their need to feed their baby in public and not be relegated to backrooms. In many cases, the baby or infant requires feeding rapidly and such a "private" room may simply be not available. [0003] There are many so called "modesty" accessories which can assist a mother in breast feeding their baby or infant in public while providing some form of privacy. Clumsy heavy cloaks are currently available through retail shops and the internet. However, these are by their very nature made of a heavy fabric that can difficult to use and in some circumstances quite hot. This is clearly not ideal for shielding a baby in warm/tropical environments. Other products have complex fittings for attachment to the mother with large volumes of fabric sitting across both sides of the chest. In short they are very similar to an apron. These are both complicated to use, unattractive and in some cases maybe of a safety concern. [0004] Simple baby shawls are most commonly used however these devices are simply laid over the breast area of the mother and the baby. These can fall or move due to movement of the mother or baby or, in some cases, simply because of their light nature. Further, in most cases, at least one hand of the mother is required to maintain the position of the baby shawl. [0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. Disclosure of the invention [0006] The present invention relates to a privacy screen for a breast feeding mother comprising a sheet or cloth, one end of which is adapted to drape over and at least partially cover the mother's breast when feeding baby/child, and a weighted member, in the form of a -3 unitary body, adapted for releasable connection to the other end of the cloth whereby in use, the cloth may be draped over one shoulder to cover a feeding baby and breast, the other end of the cloth passing around the neck or over the back of the mother and terminating in the weighted member to maintain the cloth in the desired position. [0007] In a preferred embodiment, the weighted member has an aperture adapted to receive and hold a loop extending from the cloth. [0008] In yet another preferred embodiment the weighted member, in use, is positioned outside the periphery of the cloth. [0009] Preferably the weighted member has a substantially planar side adapted to rest against the chest or back of a user. The weighted member is preferably produced in a single integral piece or unitary body with no moving parts etc. [0010] Preferably an elastic loop or similar is attached to the cloth for engagement with the weighted member although this is not essential [0011] Most preferably the weighted member is formed as a single integral piece from food grade rubber such as silicone. [0012] The cloth can be produced in any particular size or material. Particularly suitable materials are silk/viscose, cotton jersey or silk cotton. In this regard the applicant has had safety tests conducted in respect of the present invention and it has been found that all three cloths show no significant hazard in injury. Additionally, the weighted member is designed sufficiently large so there is no prospect of ingestion or choking. [0013] The resulting device has a number of significant advantages over the prior art. The weighted member is releasably attached to one end of the cloth and rests freely over the shoulder or around the neck of the mother thereby acting to counter balance and hold the cloth in the correct position. Changes of position or removal are quite simple and do not rely on attachment to any items of apparel. The weighted member simply attaches to the cloth and the cloth is draped around the neck or back of the mother such that the cloth drapes over the breast feeding side to shield the breast and feeding baby, with the weight sitting on the other side of the mothers chest, or over the back, thereby holding the cloth in the desired position. Simple movement of the weighted member allows appropriate adjustment of the fabric screen.

-4 [0014) The completely removable nature of the weighted member allows the fabric to be changed and/or cleaned at any time. It allows feeding sides to be changed quite rapidly by simply moving the weighted member to the other shoulder/side of the neck. [0015] The weighted member is preferably produced as a unitary body with no moving parts and sized such that it is virtually impossible to be swallowed, even partially, by the baby. This is a safety measure which again distinguishes the present invention. The prior art in many cases uses mechanical clips or the like which may fail or worse may injure a baby. [0016] The inventive device also leaves at least one arm, which is not supporting the baby completely free for other tasks. Brief description of the drawings {0017} The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1A-1G are various elevations and views of the weighted attached used in conjunction with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatical view of the cloth or fabric used in conjunction with the weighted attachment of Figure 1; Figure 3 show how the present invention may be used. Best mode for carrying out the invention [0018] Turning firstly to the weighted member shown in Figures 1A-1G it is, as discussed above, preferably produced as a single unitary body with no moveable or cooperating parts. The weighted member 50 comprises a body 55 and an integral hook portion 56 providing an aperture 57 for receipt of a portion of the cloth as will be discussed below. In this embodiment, it will be noted that all edges of the weighted member 50 are smooth. There are no sharp edges which could potentially injure or disturb a baby during feeding. Further, as shown, preferably one side 60 is provided with a substantially planar soft grip surface to maintain its position on the chest or back of a user. This maintains appropriate position of the privacy screen as will be discussed below.

-5 [0019] In this instance, the weighted member 50 comprises an essentially tear drop shape with a hook portion 56 being provided at the upper narrow section 58 and a more bulbous lower portion 59. [0020] The weighted member 50 has a hook portion 56 providing aperture 57 for holding the cloth/fabric as will now be discussed. {0021] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2A, the cloth comprises preferably a triangular shaped material 70. The bottom portion 71 of the fabric may be formed in a rounded fashion for instance to compensate for the forward protrusion of the baby on the breast of the mother. The material 70 should be of sufficient length the enable the weighted member 50 to sit freely on the back (Figure 4/5 below) or mid scapula level (Figure 3) of the mother and should not interfere with the normal sitting positions of the nursing mother. [0022] In the other embodiments shown in Figure 2B the cloth 70 is formed as a diamond or square. This provides increased coverage as compared with the aforementioned triangulated version, and allows for additional fabric to go over the shoulder and around the neck of the user to the other side as discussed. Again the end opposite reinforced portion 72 is a free edge(s) 71. It will be understood, however, that various shapes and sizes of the cloth may be provided within the scope of the present invention. [0023] The cloth 70 preferably has a reinforced portion 72 at the opposite end. This reinforced portion 72 can be attached to a loop 73 or similar for connection of the weighted member 50 as will be discussed below. [0024] A triangular shaped of the cloth 70 allows the cloth to extend over the shoulder towards the chest, given a natural increase and degree in draping which enhances privacy even with the use of light weight 100 percent cotton fabrics. The loop 73 of fabric or other material such as elastic, allows for easy engagement or disengagement of the aperture 57 of the weighted member 50 mentioned above. [0025] The cloth 70 may be made from any suitable material but the applicant has found that silk/viscose cloth, cotton jersey, and silk cotton cloth are suitable. Various sizes can be produced however typical sizes will be in the range of 60-80 cm sides (triangular or diamond) [0026] Use of the invention will now be described with reference to figures 3, 4 and 5.

[0027] Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the cloth 70 may be draped over one shoulder of the mother while nursing, with the weighted member 50 positioned on the opposite shoulder/chest region. The weighted member 50 rests freely on the mother and is sized so as to counterbalance the cloth and hold the cloth in the correct position. As mentioned above, the weighted member 50 is preferably a unitary body with no moving parts. It may be attached and released from the cloth in a simple fashion either directly or via an elastic loop, and only requires one hand to manoeuvre the weighted member and therefore alter the position of the cloth 70. [0028] The present invention is quite different from the prior art which uses either permanent weights sewn into the cloth or pockets etc which hold weights. In some instances, these weights are at both ends of the cloth or privacy screen. This in itself causes difficulties since the weight may be positioned close to the baby, which can cause discomfort or make adjustment of the privacy screen difficult. Further, with such loose weights in pockets, they may be lost or worse ingested by an infant/baby. The present invention on the other hand has a completely free edge at one end, and is only held in contact with the mother by way of the weighted member 50 attached to the opposite end. [0029] As shown in Figure 3, the cloth is draped around the neck of the mother such that the weight rests on the opposite side of the chest. [0030] Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative view wherein the cloth is draped over one shoulder such that the free end of the cloth 70 covers the front/breast area and the weighted member 50 is attached to and resting on the back of the mother. While this is not a particularly preferred embodiment, since the weighted member 50 at the back may prevent comfortable sitting, it confirms the flexibility of the present invention as compared with the prior art. [0031] The weighted member 50 preferably weighs around 50 grams. However, it can be altered to match the weight of the cloth. In some embodiments if the cloth is a heavier fabric for use, for example in winter, the weighted member 50 may be heavier to permit stable positioning. [0032] The present invention has a number of significant advantages over the prior art including ease of use, ease of cleaning and separation of the weighted member 50 from the cloth, provides several different configurations in use as shown in Figures 3-5 and substantially -7 satisfies all state and federal safety requirements both from a heat, suffocation, strangulation or choking hazard. [0033] A person skilled in the art will understand various modifications may be made to the embodiments shown without departing from the spirit of scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

1. A privacy screen for a breast feeding mother comprising a sheet or cloth, one end of which is adapted to drape over and at least partially cover the mother's breast when feeding a baby/child, and a weighted member in the form of a unitary body, adapted for releasable connection to the other end of the cloth whereby in use, the cloth may be draped over one shoulder to cover a feeding baby and breast, the other end of the cloth passing around the neck or over the back of the mother and terminating in the weighted member to maintain the cloth is the desired position.

2. A privacy screen as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weighted member has an aperture adapted to receive and hold a loop extending from the cloth.

3. A privacy screen as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, in use, the weighted member is positioned outside the periphery of the cloth.

4. A privacy screen as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the weighted member is formed as a single integral piece from a food grade material such a silicone or rubber.

5. A privacy screen as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims wherein the cloth is made from a suitable material such as silk/viscose, cotton jersey or silk cotton.