GB2394884A

GB2394884A - Infant nursing bra

Info

Publication number: GB2394884A
Application number: GB0226043A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maya Bewick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-07
Filing date: 2002-11-07
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: GB0226043D0

Abstract

A breastfeeding bra has a first fastener 5 attached at the front left and right sides of the bra. A second fastener may be removably attached at either side to indicate which breast is to be used next. The fasteners may be Velcro, hook and loop, press-stud or buttons. The application also claims a kit of parts having the three fasteners 5,6.

Description

\ A Bran THIS INVENTION relates to a bra, and in particular concerns a bra

which assists in reminding mothers which breast it is appropriate to use for breastfeeding at any given moment.

10 When a mother is breastfeeding, it is generally desirable to swap the breast that is used to feed at regular intervals. One reason for this is that, if a baby is consistently fed on one breast rather than the other, the unused breast is likely to become engorged and uncomfortable. To avoid this, each feed should generally begin on the breast that was not used last time.

However, the changeovers should not occur too rapidly. At the start of a feed, the milk (called i:oremilk) has a relatively high water content, which is ideal for quenching a baby's thirst. As the feed progresses, the milk that is produced (known as hindmilk) is higher in fat and calories, and this is 20 important for a baby's nutrition. Ideally, a baby should be fed both types of milk and so, if a feed is interrupted after only a few minutes, it is best to continue on the same breast, rather than to switch to the other, if further feeding is to take place.

25 Mothers often encounter difficulties in remembering which breast is to be used at any given moment. It will be appreciated that babies can often require feeding at irregular hours and at short notice, leading to tiredness or disorientation which further increases the possibility of a mother failing to correctly remember which is the appropriate breast.

Some mothers resort to maintaining a list, which is updated each time a baby is fed and which can be consulted each time a feed is required. However, the completion of such a list is time consuming, and it can be easy to neglect to 5 update the list after a feed, thus making the list useless or even misleading.

The present invention seeks to alleviate some or all of the above problems. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a bra having an indicator arrangement which may be placed in either of two different 10 states, each of the states being associated with a left or right breast of a wearer of the bra, to aid the wearer in remembering which breast is to be used for breastfeeding. Conveniently, the indicator arrangement comprises: a pair of first 15 fasteners, the first fasteners being respectively associated with left and right sides of the bra; and a second fastener, operable to co-operate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners.

Advantageously, the first and second fasteners comprise co-operating 20 areas of hook-and-loop material, a press stud, or a button and a button hole.

Preferably, the first fasteners are positioned so as to be respectively associated with left and right breasts of a wearer of the bra.

25 Conveniently, the first fasteners are provided on a front face of the bra.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a kit for adapting a bra, the kit comprising: a pair of first fasteners for securing to the bra so as to be respectively associated with left and right sides of the bra; and a second

fastener, operable to co-operate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of indicating 5 which of left and right sides of a bra corresponds to an appropriate breast for breastfeeding, the method comprising the steps of: securing a pair of first fasteners to the bra so as to be respectively associated with left and right breasts of a wearer of the bra; providing a second fastener, operable to cooperate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners; and removably 10 attaching the second fastener to one of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is appropriate for breastfeeding.

Advantageously, the step of removably attaching the second fastener to one of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is appropriate for 1 S breastfeeding comprises the step of removably attaching the second fastener to the one of the first fasteners associated with the breast most recently used for breast feeding.

Alternatively, the step of removably attaching the second fastener to one 20 of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is appropriate for breastteeding comprises the step of removably attaching the second fastener to the one of the first fasteners associated with the breast which is to be used next for breast feeding. 25 In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figure, which shows a bra embodying the present invention.

Referring to the Figure a bra 1 embodying the present invention is of conventional design, comprising a pair of cups 2 for accommodating and providing support to breasts of a wearer of the bra 1. The bra 1 further 5 comprises a back strap 3 which is attached to the cups 2 and which passes around the back of a wearer of the bra 1. A pair of shoulder straps 4 extend from respective top edges of the cups 2 and join to the back strap 3, the shoulder straps 4 being of suitable lengths to pass over the shoulders of a wearer of the bra 1, thereby helping to keep the bra 1 in place.

Aside from the conventional features, the bra 1 comprises a pair of first fasteners 5, comprising small patches of a hook-and-loop material (for instance Velcro). One of the first fasteners 5 is located on each of the shoulder straps 4, just above the respective cup 2 of the bra 1. The first fasteners are secured to 15 the shoulder straps 4, for instance by being ironed on, sewn on, or by any other suitable method.

A second fastener 6 is also provided, a first side of which comprises a further area of hook-and-loop material, having approximately the same area as 20 either of the first fasteners 5. The first side of the second fastener 6 is formed so as to cooperate with and be removably attachable to either of the first fasteners 5. A second side of the second fastener 6 is brightly coloured or otherwise distinctive, so as to be easily identifiable (although the second side need not be so). Additionally, or alternatively, the second fastener 6 may have a raised 25 pattern or texture that makes the second fastener 6 clearly factually different from either of the first fasteners 5, so that a wearer of the bra 1 can readily tell by touch (possibly through any outer clothing) which of the first fasteners 5 the second fastener 6 is attached to.

In use, a wearer of the bra 1 affixes the second fastener 6 to the one of the first fasteners 5, to indicate which breast is to be used for a given feed. For instance, if the left breast has been used most recently, the second fastener 6 5 may be attached to the one of the first fasteners 5 that is on the right shoulder strap 4, thus indicating that the right breast is to be used next time.

Alternatively, the wearer may affix the second fastener 6 to the left shoulder strap 4, indicating that this breast was used last time, and hence that the other is to be used next time. Whichever system is employed, it is simple to remove the 10 second fastener 6 from its position, and affix the second fastener 6 to the other of the first fasteners 5, once a feed is complete, thus significantly reducing the possibility of the incorrect breast being used at the next feed. It is also simple to remember to do so.

15 The first and second fasteners 5, 6 need not comprise hook-and-loop material, and may comprise any elements that cooperate with and may be removably attached to each other. For instance, the first and second fasteners 5, 6 may comprise a press stud, a button and a button hole, or any other suitable elements. In the above-described embodiment, the first fasteners 5 are secured to the shoulder straps 4 of the bra 1. This location is given by way of example, as it is easy to reach for a wearer of the bra 1. However, the first fasteners 5 may be located anywhere on the bra 1, although clearly locations which are readily 25 associated with the left and right sides of the bra 1 are preferred.

It is envisaged that specially adapted maternity bras (e.g. bras comprising cups which may be separately released to allow access to an individual breast, thereby facilitate feeding without requiring removal of the

entire bra) embodying the present invention may be desired. However, the present invention also provides a kit with which to "retro-fit" an existing bra so as to embody the present invention, the kit comprising a pair of first fasteners 5 for attachment to the existing bra and a second fastener 6 (possibly along with 5 one or more spares) for removable attachment to either of the second fasteners In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of"

and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any 15 combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bra having an indicator arrangement which may be placed in either of two different states, each of the states being associated with a left or right 5 breast of a wearer of the bra, to aid the wearer in remembering which breast is to be used for breastfeeding.

2. A bra according to Claim 1, wherein the indicator arrangement

comprises: 10 a pair of first fasteners, the first fasteners being respectively associated with left and right sides of the bra; and a second fastener, operable to co-operate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners.

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3. A bra according to Claim 2, wherein the first and second fasteners comprise co-operating areas of hook-and-loop material, a press stud, or a button and a button hole.

4. A bra according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the first fasteners are 20 positioned so as to be respectively associated with left and right breasts of a wearer of the bra.

5. A bra according to any preceding claim, wherein the first fasteners are provided on a front face of the bra.

6. A kit for adapting a bra, the kit comprising: a pair of first fasteners for securing to the bra so as to be respectively associated with left and right sides of the bra, and

a second fastener, operable to co-operate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners.

7. A method of indicating which of left and right sides of a bra corresponds 5 to an appropriate breast for breastfeeding, the method comprising the steps of: securing a pair of first fasteners to the bra so as to be respectively associated with left and right breasts of a wearer of the bra; providing a second fastener, operable to co-operate with and be removably attached to either of the first fasteners; and 10 removably attaching the second fastener to one of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is appropriate for breastfeeding.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the step of removably attaching the second fastener to one of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is 15 appropriate for breastfeeding comprises the step of removably attaching the second fastener to the one of the first fasteners associated with the breast most recently used for breast feeding.

9. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the step of removably attaching 20 the second fastener to one of the first fasteners to indicate which breast is appropriate for breastfeeding comprises the step of removably attaching the second fastener to the one of the first fasteners associated with the breast which is to be used next for breast feeding.

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10. A bra substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying Figure.

11. A kit substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying Figure.

12. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying Figure.

5

13. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.