GB1589809A - Nursing brassiere - Google Patents

Description

(54) NURSING BRASSIERE (71) We, BERLHEST CO. LTD., a Com- pany incorporated under the laws of Province of Liechenstein, FL-9490 Vaduz, Furstentum, Liechenstein, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to nursing brassieres of the kind which are constructed to enable one or both breasts to be exposed to enable a child to be fed.

With such brassieres problems have been encountered in providing a form of construction which achieves the desired result while both maintaining the garment properly in position on the body during feeding so that the breast not being used for feeding is properly supported and not constricting or otherwise interfering with the flow of milk from the breast during feeding.

Amongst the various forms of construction that have been previously proposed there may be mentioned that described in Australian Patent Specification 487,908 (Application No. 82731/75) which is said to overcome the defects of prior art constructions. According to this reference, the brassiere is supported on the body of the wearer by means of a body encircling band having left and right shoulder straps passing over the shoulders of the wearer, each strap being joined to the body encircling band at the rear and also at the front on the outer side of each breast. Each breast cup is detachably secured at its upper edge to the corresponding shoulder strap in such a manner that it can be detached and folded down to permit feeding.

The present invention provides a nursing brassiere comprising two breast cups, a body encircling band to which the lower edge of the cups are atached or form part, a pair of shoulder straps each attached at one of their respective ends to said body encircling band, at the back of the brassiere, the other end of each shoulder strap being attached to an upper end of a respective one of a pair of pieces of material affixed to the front of the brassiere, each of said pieces of material extending from the region of the outer corner of a respective breast cup at a point above or near the top of the breast cup downwardly adjacent but unattached to the outer side edge region thereof and along the lower edge region thereof and said piece of material being attached to said breast cup only along the said lower edge region thereof, said piece of material being shaped to overlie portions of the outer side and underside of the breast, and securing means detachably securing each shoulder strap to the top of each respective breast cup, the arrangement being such that in use each shoulder strap passes over a shoulder of the wearer between the back and the front of the brassiere so that when either or both breast cups are detached from their respective shoulder straps and folded down to expose the breast or breasts the brassiere is supported on the body of the wearer and a degree of support is provided for each exposed breast at its outer and undersides by said piece of material.

Various embodiments according to the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first form of brassiere constructed in accordance with the invention, showing one breast cup folded down; Figure 2 is a rear view thereof but with both breast cups in their normal wearing position; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified form of construction.

The brassieres illustrated in the drawings both consist of a body encircling band indicated generally at 10 the ends of which are joined at the wearer's back by means of hooks and eyes 11. The body encircling band, which is a conventional feature of many brassieres is made up of a number of parts joined together. It may take a variety of different forms but its essential function is to surround the body of the wearer and hold the garment in position.

Attached to the body encircling band 10 are two breast cups 12 and 13 the lower edges of which, in the embodiments shown, are sewn to the body encircling band and which are cut and shaped to fit the breasts of a wearer. At the apex of each bust cup is a clip 14 (see Fig. 1) by means of which the apex of the bust cup is secured to the respective one of shoulder straps 15 and 16.

The shoulder straps 15 and 16 are secured at points 17 and 18 (see Fig. 3) respectively to the back part of the body encircling band 10 and are provided with the usual means by which their effective lengths may be adjusted.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, at the front of the garment each shoulder strap is sewn to the uper end of the respective one of the pieces of material 19 and 20 and each has one member of the clips 14 sewn to it at its junction with said piece of material. The shoulder strap then continues downwardly and is attached at its lower end to the breast cup at point 25 which constitutes the outer lateral corner of the breast cup.

Each of the pieces of material 19 and 20 is sewn along its lower edge to the lower edge of the adjacent bust cup 12 or 13 but apart from this it is not attached to the bust cup except for being sewn at its inner end into the centre seam 24 of the garment. The piece of material 19 is secured by the zigzag stitching at 21 to the front portion of the shoulder strap 15 which is continued down between the piece of material 19 and the bust cup 12, being sewn at its lower end into the seam between the cup 12 and the body encircling band 10 at point 25. The piece of material 20 is similarly attached to the shoulder strap 16.

The arrangement is such that when the garment is being worn the apex of either or both breast cups may be detached by means of the clips 14 from the corresponding junction between the shoulduer strap 15 or 16 and the respective pieces of material 19 and 20, whercupon the breast cup can be folded down to expose the breast for nursing purposes. In Fig. 1 the breast cup 12 is shown so folded down.

When this is done the pieces of material 19 and 20 remain in position and act to support the underbust without interfering with the flow of milk from the breast.

These pieces are shaped so as to extend over only a limited portion of the breast to this end and the material of which they are made is chosen to give adequate support under the circumstances described while not producing any discomfort to the wearer. They may be made of material that is light, flexible and slightly stretchable in one or more directions. A preferred material is a simplex tricot 44 decitex 100% full dull nylon.

The general construction of the garment ensures that the breast that is not uncovered for feeding purposes is fully supported and thus has the advantage of providing improved support for the breasts when they are exposed for nursing.

Figures 1 and 2 show a brassiere construction in which the pieces of material 19 and 20 indicated in Figures 1 and 2 as 19a and 20a comprise portions 22 and 23 respectively extending from the upper parts of the pieces of material along the upper edge of the breast cup to the front center seam of the garment 24 into which their ends are sewn.

Various other variations and modifications falling within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the brassiere art.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: - 1. A nursing brassiere comprising two breast cups, a body encircling band to which the lower edges of the cups are attached or form part, a pair of shoulder straps each attached at one of their respective ends to said body encircling band, at the back of the brassiere, the other end of each shoulder strap being attached to an upper end of a respective one of a pair of pieces of material affixed to the front of the brassiere, each of said pieces of material extending from the region of the outer corner of a respective breast cup at a point above or near the top of the breast cup downwardly adjacent but unattached to the outer side edge region thereof and along the lower edge region thereof and said piece of material being attached to said breast cup only along the said lower edge region thereof, said piece of material being shaped to overlie portions of the outer side and underside of the breast, and securing means detachably securing each shoulder strap to the top of each respective breast cup, the ;Irrangement being such that in use each shoulder strap passes over a shoulder of the wearer between the back and the front of the brassiere so that when either or both breast cups are detached from their respective shoulder straps and folded down to expose the breast or breasts the brassiere is supported on the body of the wearer and a degree of support is provided for each exposed breast at its outer and undersides by said piece of material.

2. A nursing brassiere as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each said piece of material comprises a portion extending along the upper edge of a breast cup so as to cover only the upper part of a breast and is sewn at its end into a centre seam of the garment.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. wearer and hold the garment in position. Attached to the body encircling band 10 are two breast cups 12 and 13 the lower edges of which, in the embodiments shown, are sewn to the body encircling band and which are cut and shaped to fit the breasts of a wearer. At the apex of each bust cup is a clip 14 (see Fig. 1) by means of which the apex of the bust cup is secured to the respective one of shoulder straps 15 and 16. The shoulder straps 15 and 16 are secured at points 17 and 18 (see Fig. 3) respectively to the back part of the body encircling band 10 and are provided with the usual means by which their effective lengths may be adjusted. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, at the front of the garment each shoulder strap is sewn to the uper end of the respective one of the pieces of material 19 and 20 and each has one member of the clips 14 sewn to it at its junction with said piece of material. The shoulder strap then continues downwardly and is attached at its lower end to the breast cup at point 25 which constitutes the outer lateral corner of the breast cup. Each of the pieces of material 19 and 20 is sewn along its lower edge to the lower edge of the adjacent bust cup 12 or 13 but apart from this it is not attached to the bust cup except for being sewn at its inner end into the centre seam 24 of the garment. The piece of material 19 is secured by the zigzag stitching at 21 to the front portion of the shoulder strap 15 which is continued down between the piece of material 19 and the bust cup 12, being sewn at its lower end into the seam between the cup 12 and the body encircling band 10 at point 25. The piece of material 20 is similarly attached to the shoulder strap 16. The arrangement is such that when the garment is being worn the apex of either or both breast cups may be detached by means of the clips 14 from the corresponding junction between the shoulduer strap 15 or 16 and the respective pieces of material 19 and 20, whercupon the breast cup can be folded down to expose the breast for nursing purposes. In Fig. 1 the breast cup 12 is shown so folded down. When this is done the pieces of material 19 and 20 remain in position and act to support the underbust without interfering with the flow of milk from the breast. These pieces are shaped so as to extend over only a limited portion of the breast to this end and the material of which they are made is chosen to give adequate support under the circumstances described while not producing any discomfort to the wearer. They may be made of material that is light, flexible and slightly stretchable in one or more directions. A preferred material is a simplex tricot 44 decitex 100% full dull nylon. The general construction of the garment ensures that the breast that is not uncovered for feeding purposes is fully supported and thus has the advantage of providing improved support for the breasts when they are exposed for nursing. Figures 1 and 2 show a brassiere construction in which the pieces of material 19 and 20 indicated in Figures 1 and 2 as 19a and 20a comprise portions 22 and 23 respectively extending from the upper parts of the pieces of material along the upper edge of the breast cup to the front center seam of the garment 24 into which their ends are sewn. Various other variations and modifications falling within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the brassiere art. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: -

1. A nursing brassiere comprising two breast cups, a body encircling band to which the lower edges of the cups are attached or form part, a pair of shoulder straps each attached at one of their respective ends to said body encircling band, at the back of the brassiere, the other end of each shoulder strap being attached to an upper end of a respective one of a pair of pieces of material affixed to the front of the brassiere, each of said pieces of material extending from the region of the outer corner of a respective breast cup at a point above or near the top of the breast cup downwardly adjacent but unattached to the outer side edge region thereof and along the lower edge region thereof and said piece of material being attached to said breast cup only along the said lower edge region thereof, said piece of material being shaped to overlie portions of the outer side and underside of the breast, and securing means detachably securing each shoulder strap to the top of each respective breast cup, the ;Irrangement being such that in use each shoulder strap passes over a shoulder of the wearer between the back and the front of the brassiere so that when either or both breast cups are detached from their respective shoulder straps and folded down to expose the breast or breasts the brassiere is supported on the body of the wearer and a degree of support is provided for each exposed breast at its outer and undersides by said piece of material.

2. A nursing brassiere as claimed in Claim 1 wherein each said piece of material comprises a portion extending along the upper edge of a breast cup so as to cover only the upper part of a breast and is sewn at its end into a centre seam of the garment.

3. A nursing brassiere as claimed in

Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein each of said pieces of material is made of a material that is light, flexible and slightly stretchable.

4. A nursing brassiere as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the said material is a simplex tricot 44 decitex 100% full dull nylon.

5. A nursing brassiere substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.