AU634147B1

AU634147B1 -

Info

Publication number: AU634147B1
Application number: AU3024392A
Authority: AU
Priority date: 1992-12-15
Filing date: 1992-12-15
Publication date: 1993-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1994-02-11

Description

Reguolion 32 634147 OZLEM HASAN and BEVERLY JANET SOLEIMANI

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 PETTY PATENT SPECIFICATION for the invention entitled: "BREAST FEEDING GARMENT" The invention is described in the following statement: 1- -2- BREAST FEEDING GARMENT This invention relates to an outer garment for a breast feeding mother.

The object of the present invention is to provide outer gannrment for a breast feeding mother, the garment having a normal appearance but having concealed openings which can provide access to the breasts for discreet breast feeding. Further, the garment includes absorbent flaps which soak up excess milk which may be present during breast feeding.

According to the present invention there is provided an outer garment for a breast feeding mother, said garment including a front having first and second openings which in use are located adjacent to respective breasts of the mother, first and second panels which normally overlie and conceal the first and second openings respectively, closure means for connecting the first and second panels to the front of the garment, said closure means being selectively openable to enable the panels to be moved away from said openings to give access to the breasts for breast feeding, and first and second absorbent flaps connected to the inside of the front of the garment and being adapted to be pulled through the respective openings and overlie the front of the garment downwardly adjacent to the respective openings to absorb excess milk during breast feeding.

Preferably, the closure means comprise buttons connected to the front of the garment therebeing button holes provided in said first and second panels.

Preferably further, the first and second absorbent flaps comprise absorbent fabric such as cotton stitched to the inner face of the garment inwardly adjacent to the first and second openings.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing one of the panels opened; 921203,p:\opergcp,h asan.pp,2 -3- Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the garment being worn; Figure 4 is a similar view but with the panel open; Figure 5 is a front view of a second garment of the invention; Figure 6 is a rear view of the second garment; Figure 7 shows one of the front panels open; Figure 8 shows the breast opening expanded; and Figure 9 shows an absorbent flap passing through, the breast opening.

The garment 2 illustrated in the drawings comprises a lady's top preferably made from a knitted fabric. It is preferably cut so as to be fashionable and having a loose fitting cut. The garment has a front 4 which includes two laterally extending openings 6. The cepnings 6 are located so that they will be adjacent to the wearer's breasts when the garment is worn, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. When the garment is lying flat, the length of the openings is such that they extend from the centre i 15 of the garment to near its lateral edges as shown in Figure 2. The front of the garment is provided with two decorative panels 8 and 10 which overlie and conceal the openings 6. The upper edges of the panels 8 and 10 are stitched to the front of the garment as indicated by stitch lines 12 and 14 shown on Figure 1. The side edges of the panels are also stitched to the front of the garment as indicated by lateral stitch lines 14 and 16 and centre stitch line 18. The lower edges of the panels 8 and 10 are not however stitched to the front of the garment so as to provide access to the openings 6. The panels 8 and thus fully conceal the openings 6. Further, the panels 8 and 10 can be made to have a contrasting colour or pattern to the remainder of the garment so as to provide an attractive appearance.

I The garment includes closure means for holding down the panels 8 and 10 to prevent unwanted access to the opening 6. The preferred form of closure means comprises a pair of buttons 20 sewn on the front of the garment downwardly adjacent to the openings 6, button holes 22 being provided in the respective panels 8 and Buttons are the preferred form of closure means for holding the panels 8 and 10 down but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other techniques would be available such as using strips of velcro, press studs or the like. Some of the other 921203,p:\opcrgcp,h aS an pp,3 -4techniques would involve use of hard or rough materials which could be irritating to the baby and/or the mother and therefore buttons are preferred. Further, the buttons can be made to give a fashionable appearance to the garment.

The garment of the invention includes absorbent flaps 24 and 26 which are stitched to the inside surface of the front 4 of the garment downwardly adjacent to the openings 6, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Rectangular pieces of woven cotton material or towelling would be suitable for this purpose. Normally the absorbent flaps 24 and 26 i/ are located on the inside of the garment, as shown in Figure 3. When, however, breast feeding is to commence, the button 20 on the appropriate side is undone so as to provide access to the breast. Prior to commencement of feeding, the flap is pulled through the opening so that it hangs down or lies adjacent to the outer face of the front of the garment 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. In this position it will tend to soak up any milk or moisture which would otherwise fall onto the garment. After feeding the flap is returned to the inside of the garment and the button 20 again fastened to the flap 8 or The mother may wear a bre -t feeding bra if she wishes under the garment of the invention.

Figures 5 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention. Similar reference numerals will be used to denote parts which correspond to those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the front 4 of the garment includes relatively large upper panels 32 and 34 which are stitched to the front 4 along stitch lines 36, 38, 40 and 42.

The inner edges 44 and 46 of the panels are inclined and partly overlapped so as to provide a V-neck appearance for the garment. The overlapped parts of the panels are held down by means of a single button 20 which is sewn to the front 4 of the garment, button holes 22 being provided in each of the flaps 32 and 34.

As best seen in Figure 7, the front 4 includes two rows 48 and 50 of decorative stitching. Alternatively the front may be made up from separate panels stitched together by the rows of stitching. Located beneath each of the panels 32 and 34, and preferably in line with the lines of decorative stitching 48 and 50, are respective breast openings 52 921203,p:\opcr\gcp,h aanpp,4 which are accessible when one or other of the panels 32 and 34 is raised. In Figure 7 the panel 34 has been loosened from the button 20 so as to reveal the opening 52. Figure 8 shows the opening 52 expanded so as to give access to the breast of the wearer for breast feeding. Figure 9 shows the absorbent flap 26 passing through the opening 52.

SAgain, the garment illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 is attractive and permits discreet breast feeding.

It will be appreciated that with the garment of the invention comprises a fashionable outer garment which enables breast feeding to be carried out in public areas in a very discreet way.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

i 921203,p:\opcr\gcp,hasanpp,5

A

Claims

1. An outer garment for a breast feeding mother, said garment including a front having first and second openings which in use are located adjacent to respective breasts of the mother, first and second panels which normally overlie and conceal the first and second openings respectively, closure means for connecting the first and second panels to the front of the garment, said closure means being selectively openable to enable the panels to be moved away from said openings to give access to the breasts for breast feeding, and first and second absorbent flaps connected to the inside of the front of the garment and being adapted to be pulled through the respective openings and overlie the front of the garment downwardly adjacent to the respective openings to absorb excess milk during breast feeding.

2. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second openings extend laterally each about half the width of the front of the garment.

3. A garment as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second openings extend generally vertically and wherein the first and second panels are stitched at the sides and shoulders of the garment the adjacent opposed edges partly overlapping and wherein the closure means comprises a button which passes through button holes in said overlapping edges. DATED this 15th day of December, 1992 OZLEM HASAN and BEVERLY JANET SOLEIMANI By their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE 921215,p:\opc\&cp,hasn.pp,6 Llbl