GB2538334A

GB2538334A - A device for nursing mothers

Info

Publication number: GB2538334A
Application number: GB1517746.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nott Emily
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-05-06
Filing date: 2015-10-07
Publication date: 2016-11-16
Also published as: GB201507861D0; GB201517746D0

Abstract

A breast-covering garment 14 comprises an attachment device for retaining a breast pad 38 within the garment. The attachment device may be in the form of a retaining strap 42; or may be any other releasable fastener, such as a button, a snap fastener, or hook and loop tape. The garment may also include shoulder straps (22, figure 1) with adjustment means 36 and quick release clasps 32, 34. Such clasps enable the breasts to be uncovered whilst feeding. Such a garment, in the form of a vest, top, or camisole, is less restrictive than a traditional nursing bra, which may inhibit milk supply and lead to conditions such as mastitis.

Description

A device for nursing mothers

Field of Invention

The invention provides a device for nursing mothers, more particularly but not exclusively a brassiere, bra, or similar garment for nursing mothers configured to make breastfeeding more comfortable and convenient.

Background

Nursing / breastfeeding mothers are often subject to milk leakage. If moisture is not removed from the area of the breast, prolonged contact with damp material can lead irritation, and can discourage mothers from ongoing breastfeeding. One way of overcoming this problem is for such breastfeeding mothers to wear absorbent breast pads within their bras. Breast pads may be disposable or reusable (washable) and different forms are well-known in the art. However, each type of breast pad needs to be held in position over the breast to efficiently wick moisture away.

Breastfeeding mothers often find that they cannot wear traditional bras, or even traditional nursing bras, when sleeping as they are overly restrictive. In some cases, even during waking periods such bras may be too restrictive. Such restrictive bras can lead to conditions such as mastitis, which can inhibit milk supply and cause significant discomfort.

However, less restrictive garments such as vests, tops and camisoles, are unable to maintain the location of a breast pad adjacent to the breast; rather, such tops permit breast pads to slip.

Conventional bras and nursing bras hold a breast pad in position by closely conforming to the shape of the underlying breast. Some breast pads are additionally provided with an adhesive backing to hold them in place within a bra; however, this is not sufficient to hold a breast pad in position within a garment lacking a close conforming shape.

Summary of Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a garment for use by breastfeeding mothers, the garment configured to cover the breast of a wearer, the garment comprising an attachment device for retaining a breast pad within the garment.

In this way, a breast pad may be retained in position on a substantially nonconforming garment, as may be the subject of the present invention, for instance a substantially loose garment.

The attachment device may comprise a retaining strap. For instance, the retaining strap may be configured to pass around a portion of the breast pad. The retaining strap may be extensible, for example elasticated. Alternatively or additionally, the retaining strap may be at least partially removable, such as at one end.

Alternatively or additionally, the attachment device may comprise a pocket into which a breast pad may be at least partially inserted.

The attachment device may comprise at least one item selected from the list comprising: a button; a button hole; a male portion of a snap fastener; a female portion of a snap fastener (for example a press stud); a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener; and a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener (for example, Velcro (RTM)). The attachment device may comprise a plurality of such items which may be substantially the same as one another, or may differ in form and/or size.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for use by breastfeeding mothers, the system comprising the garment of any preceding claim and a breast pad.

The breast pad may be disposable, but in preferred embodiments the breast pad is reusable (i.e. washable). For instance, the breast pad may comprise cotton, Coolmax (RTM) or any other known absorbent and/or moisture-wicking material.

The breast pad may comprise at least one further item selected from the list comprising: a button; a button hole; a male portion of a snap fastener; a female portion of a snap fastener; a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener; and a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener; wherein the further item is configured to cooperatively engage with the item of the attachment device to couple the breast pad to the garment.

For instance, the garment may comprise a button hole and the breast pad may comprise a button for insertion through the button hole.

The breast pad may be sized to cover a nipple, an areola, one breast and/or both breasts of a user. The breast pad may have a maximum lateral extent of at least 5cm, 10cm, 15cm, 25cm, 30cm or 35cm. The breast pad may be substantially flat and may have a substantially circular, rectangular, oval, elliptical or bow-tie like shape.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a rear three-quarter view of the embodiment shown in figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a rear three-quarter view of the embodiment shown in figure 3 with the absorbent pad separated from the bra.

Figure 5a shows a front view of a second embodiment of the device; Figure 5b shows a rear view of the second embodiment of the device; Figure 5c shows a plan view of a first embodiment of padding for the device according to the present invention; Figure 5d shows a plan view of a second embodiment of padding for the device according to the present invention; and Figure 5e shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the device.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this

disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this

description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, an embodiment of a bra for nursing mothers according to the invention comprises: a fabric portion 10 configured to fit around the body, having a front portion 12 and a rear portion 14, the front and rear portions joined at their two sides, and an elasticated lower hem 16, the front portion having a cut-away neckline 18, and a left 20 and right 22 shoulder straps attached to the front portion at left and right attachment points 24, 26 and the rear portion at left and right attachment points 28, 25 30, wherein the straps and the front attachment points comprise quick-release clasps 32, 34 operable to connect the straps to the front attachment points.

In this way the bra provides a comfortable garment for nursing mothers to wear, allowing them to release a quick release clasp to allow one side of the front portion to fold down to allow a baby to reach the mother's breast on that side. The elasticated hem retains the bra in place to give support to the other breast.

In some variants of the embodiment the bra may be designed as daywear and in some variants as nightwear. In a preferred embodiment the bra is adapted for use at night and may be styled as, and formed from materials suited for, nightwear.

In some embodiments the device is embodied as a bra, a nightdress, T-shirt or another garment for covering the chest at least in part, for example a onesie.

The straps comprise adjustment means 36 as known in the art to lengthen or shorten the straps.

The pictured embodiment comprises a pad 38 mounted on the inside of the front portion 12 to absorb any milk leakage, for example in the case that the bra is configured as nightwear, while the mother is sleeping.

The towelling pad is separable from the bra for separate washing. The pad may be attached to the front portion by means of buttons and buttonholes, press-studs or Velcro (RTM) as known in the art. The pad may be formed of any absorbent washable or disposable material. Further embodiments may include multipartite pads comprising absorbent material and material serving a further purpose, such as a cooling or heating purpose or inner or outer. For example in some embodiments perfume or medicine may be comprised in the pad, a pad inner or a pad outer.

A retaining strap 42 is provided to hold the pad in position.

Some embodiments have a plurality of pads for insertion into the device; for example one for each nipple and/or a plurality of different layers and shapes for each breast.

In this embodiment the rear portion 14 is shallower than the front portion and the rear attachment points 28, 30 comprise loops 40 through which the straps pass to allow the adjustment means 36 to operate.

The bra may be formed from materials as known in the art, the fabric portion preferably comprising a soft fabric for comfort. The pad may be formed from a towelling material to give good absorbency. The invention is not limited to any specific type or design of material for the fabric portion. A range of colours, cut-outs, decoration such as printing or embroidery are usable according to the styling of the embodiment.

The bra may be made in a range of sizes as known in the art. The fabric may be stretchable to assist a close fit.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated 5 that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A garment for use by breastfeeding mothers, the garment configured to cover the breast of a wearer, the garment comprising an attachment device for retaining a breast pad within the garment.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises a retaining strap.
3. The garment of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the attachment device comprises at least one item selected from the list comprising: a button; a button hole; a male portion of a snap fastener; a female portion of a snap fastener; a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener; and a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener.
4. A system for use by breastfeeding mothers, the system comprising the 20 garment of any preceding claim and a breast pad.
5. The system of claim 4, when dependent on claim 3, wherein the breast pad comprises at least one further item selected from the list comprising: a button; a button hole; a male portion of a snap fastener; a female portion of a snap fastener; a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener; and a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener; wherein the further item is configured to cooperatively engage with the item of the attachment device to couple the breast pad to the garment.