GB2564940A

GB2564940A - A maternity garment

Info

Publication number: GB2564940A
Application number: GB1808756.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kunal Dattani Rakhi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-02
Filing date: 2018-05-25
Publication date: 2019-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-25
Also published as: GB201808756D0; GB2564940B; GB201708825D0

Abstract

A garment (2) for breastfeeding comprising an inner portion (4) having a halter neck (6); fastener means (8) for releasably fastening the inner portion (4) around a neck (10) of a woman (12) wearing the maternity garment; an outer portion (14) which fits over the inner portion (4); end the maternity garment (2) being such that the inner portion (4) and the outer portion are connected together; the inner portion (4) Is able to be lowered over the breast (18) of the woman (12) when the fastener means (8) is unfastened; the outer portion (14) can be raised upwardly over the breast; where with the inner portion lowered and the outer portion raised, the breast (16) is exposed for breastfeeding. Preferably the fastener (8) is a pair of ties that can be tied behind the neck (fig. 3). The back of the garment might be adjustable by way of elastic (32, fig. 3) or an adjustable fastening. The design can be adapted into various types of clothing including formalwear and could form a blouse or dress.

Description

A MATERNITY GARMENT

This invention relates to a garment and, more especially, this invention relates to a maternity garment.

Maternity wear for women wishing to breastfeed their babies typically lacks in elegance and/or is uncomfortable to wear. Mothers wishing to be stylishly dressed, for example for festive occasions, often have to sacrifice elegance of wear for practicality of breastfeeding.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a maternity garment comprising:

(i) an inner portion having a halter neck;

(ii) fastener means for releasably fastening the inner portion around a neck of a woman wearing the maternity garment;

(iii) an Outer portion which fits over the inner portion;

and the maternity garment being such that:

(iv) the inner portion and the outer portion are connected together;

(v) the inner portion is able to be lowered over the breast of the woman when the fastener means is unfastened;

(vi) the outer portion is raisable upwardly over the breast of the woman; and (vii) with the inner portion lowered and the outer portion raised, the breast is exposed for breastfeeding.

The maternity garment of the present invention is such that the Outer portion is able to be constructed in a plurality of shapes enabling the maternity garment to be of various stylish designs as may be required. In addition, the inner portion is easily able to be lowered and the outer portion is easily able to be raised, so that breast feeding is able to be done discretely. The combination of the stylish appearance and the ease of breastfeeding enables mothers to dress appropriately and stylishly for various occasions, whilst at the same time being able easily to breast feed their babies when required.

The maternity garment will usually be one in which the inner portion only extends across the front ofthe Woman’s upper body. Thus the inner portion will normally not extend around the back of the woman’s upper body. The inner portion may however extend partially or completely around the back of the women’s upper body if desired.

Preferably, the fastener means is a tie member having first and second parts for being tied together behind the woman’s neck. Advantageously, the first and second parts are sufficiently long that they are able to hang over a top part of the outer portion when the inner portion is lowered, whereby the first and second parts are easily retrievable for tying behind the woman’s neck when the fastener means is to be re-fastened. Fastener means other than a tie member may be employed if desired. Thus, for example, the fastener means may alternatively be a Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) fastener means or a press stud fastener means.

Preferably, the maternity garment is one in which the inner and Outer portions are connected together along opposite sides of the maternity garment. The inner and outer portions may alternatively be connected together at other positions if desired.

The inner and outer portions are preferably connected together by sewing. The inner and outer portions may be connected together by means other than sewing so that, for example, the inner and outer portions may be connected together by various types of fastener devices.

Preferably, the maternity garment is one in which the outer portion has an adjustable back for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size. The maternity garment may then be used over an extended period by mothers as their bodies reduce in size post-pregnancy, and/or as their breasts change in size due to breastfeeding or combinations of breastfeeding and feeding by other means.

The adjustable back may have an elasticated back portion for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size. The elasticated back portion is preferably at a bottom part of the maternity garment, but it may be positioned elsewhere if desired. The adjustable back may be of other constructions for providing the adjustability and thus the adjustable back may comprise, for example, an elasticated strap and hook arrangement for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size.

Alternatively, the maternity garment may be one in which the outer portion has a non-adjustable back whereby the maternity garment is a one-size only maternity garment.

In all embodiments of the maternity garment of the present invention, the outer portion may have an open back which is secured at an upper part by securing means such for example as a button and button hole arrangement. Other types of securing means may be employed.

The maternity garment may be one in which the outer portion is of a shape that defines the appearance of at least that part of the maternity garment that fits around the neck and breast of the woman wearing the maternity garment. The outer portion may thus be of a shape that defines the appearance of part or all of the maternity garment.

The maternity garment may be one in which the outer portion extends downwardly further than the inner portion. Alternatively, the maternity garment may be one in which the inner portion extends downwardly farther than the outer portion. Alternatively, the inner and outer portions may extend downwardly to substantially the same position.

The maternity garment of the present invention may be made in a wide variety of designs. Thus, for example, the maternity garment may have no sleeves, short sleeves, or long sleeves. Also, for example, the maternity garment may have a short, medium or long body portion. Further, the maternity garment may be made in a wide variety of styles, for example a sari style for use by women of asian culture, or a western style for use by women of western culture. The maternity garment may be a blouse, a dress, or a trousered garment. With a trousered garment, the trouser part will usually be a part of the inner portion because the inner portion only has to be lowered in use of the maternity garment.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described Solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a first maternity garment in a breastfeeding condition;

Figure 2 is a front view of the maternity garment shown in Figure 1 but in a non-breastfeeding condition;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the maternity garment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a front view of a second maternity garment iri a breastfeeding condition;

Figure 5 is a front view of the maternity garment shown in Figure 4 but in a non-breastfeeding condition;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the maternity garment shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a front view of a third maternity garment in a nonbreastfeeding condition; and

Figure 8 is a rearview of the maternity garment shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1-3, there is shown a maternity garment in the form of a maternity blouse 2 comprising an inner portion 4 having a halter neck

6. The maternity blouse 2 also comprises fastener means 8 for releasably fastening the inner portion 4 around a neck 10 of a woman 12 wearing the maternity blouse 2.

The maternity blouse 2 further comprises an outer portion 14. The outer portion 14 fits over the inner portion 4. The outer portion 14 is of a shape that defines the design of the maternity blouse 2.

The maternity blouse 2 is such that the inner portion 4 and the outer portion 14 are connected together. Thus the maternity blouse 2 is effectively a one-piece garment having inner and outer portions 4, 14 which are able to move relatively to one another.

The inner portion 4 is able to be lowered over a breast 16 of the woman 12 when the fastener means 8 is unfastened. The outer portion 14 is raisable upwardly over the breast 16 of the woman 12. With the inner portion 4 lowered and the outer portion 14 raised, the breast 16 is exposed for breastfeeding as can be appreciated from Figure 1.

The inner portion 4 only extends across the front of the woman’s torso, and it does not extend around the back of the woman’s torso.

The fastener means 8 is a tie member having a first part i 8 and a second part 20. The first and second parts 18, 20 are for being tied together behind the woman’s neck 10 as shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the first and second parts 18, 20 are shown tied together in a bow 22.

The first and second parts 18,20 of the fastener means 8 are sufficiently long that they are able to hang over a top part 24 of the outer portion 14 when the inner portion 4 is lowered. This enables the first and second parts 18, 20 easily to be retrievable for tying behind the woman’s neck 10 when the fastener means 8 is to be refastened after breastfeeding.

The inner and outer portions 4, 14 of the maternity blouse 2 are connected together along opposite sides 26, 28 of the maternity blouse 2. More specifically, the inner and outer portions 4, 14 are connected together by sewing. As shown in Figure 3, the Outer portion 14 has an adjustable back 30. The adjustable back 30 enables the maternity blouse 2 to vary in size, for example as the woman 12 reduces in weight post-pregnancy. The adjustable back 30 has an elasticated portion 32 which enables the required adjustment. As can be seen from Figure 3, the elasticated portion 32 is at a bottom part of the outer portion 14. The top part of the outer portion 14 is provided with a buttonhole loop 34 for receiving a button 36.

The maternity blouse 2 is stylish, whilst at the same time being easily usable for breastfeeding. The woman 12 is thus able to dress stylishly whilst at the same time be secure in the knowledge that she will easily be able breastfeed as and when required. The maternity blouse 2 is shown as a sleeveless maternity blouse 2. Because the maternity blouse 2 has the adjustable back 30, the maternity blouse 2 is able to be worn as the women’s body changes shape, and there is no need constantly to make tailoring alterations to the blouse 2 to make it fit properly.

Figures 4-6 show a maternity blouse 38. Similar parts as in the maternity blouse 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. It will be seen from Figure 4 that the maternity blouse 38 has short sleeves 40. It will be seen from Figure 6 that the maternity blouse 38 has a non-adjustable back 42 formed by an open section 44. The lower end of the open section 44 is defined by a permanently connected section 46. The upper end of the open section 44 is defined by a button hole loop 34 and a button 36 as in the maternity blouse 2.

Figures 7 and 8 show a maternity garment in the form of a maternity dress 48. Similar parts as in the maternity blouse 2 have bieen given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The maternity dress 48 has an inner portion 4 which is longer than the outer portion 14, and which thus gives the dress appearance. This in contrast to the maternity blouses 2 and 38 where the outer portion 14 extends downwardly to approximately the same length as the inner portion 4, and which thus gives the blouse appearance. If desired, the outer portion 14 may extend downwardly further than the inner portion 4 in the maternity blouses 2, 38. In the maternity dress 48, the sleeves 40 are shorter than the sleeves 40 in the maternity blouse 38.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the maternity garments 2, 38 and 48 may be in other styles, for example having long sleeves and/or other types of adjustable or non-adjustable backs. The maternity garments 2, 38 and 48 may be produced in a wide variety of sari styles for women of asian culture, and western styles for wohnen of western culture. The maternity garments may be made of any desired material or materials, and in any desired colour or colours. The inner and outer portions may be connected together at other positions and wherever suitable for the design of the maternity garment. Figures 1 and 4 show the outer portion 14 raised for exposing the right breast 16. The outer portion 14 can alternatively be raised to expose the left breast as required. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and/or shown abovb, taken singly or in any combination.

Claims

1. A maternity garment comprising:

(I) an inner portion having a halter neck;

(ii) fastener means for releasably fastening the inner portion around a heck of a woman wearing the maternity garment;

(iii) an outer portion which fits over the inner portion;

arid the maternity garment being such that:

(iv) the inner portion and the outer portion are connected together;

2. A maternity garment according to claim 1 in which the inner portion only extends across the front of the woman’s upper body.

3. A maternity garment according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the fastener means is a tie member having first and second parts for being tied behind the woman’s neck.

4. A maternity garment according to claim 3 in which the first and second parts are sufficiently long that they are able to hang over a top part of the outer portion when the inner portion is lowered, whereby the first and second parts are easily retrievable for tying behind the woman’s neck when the fastener means is to be re-fastened.

5. A maternity garment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the inner and outer portions are connected together along opposite sides of the maternity garment.

6. A maternity garment according to claim 5 in which the inner and outer portions are con nected together by sewing.

7. A maternity garment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer portion has an adjustable back for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size.

8. A maternity garment according to claim 7 in which the adjustable back has an elasticated back portion for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size.

9. A maternity garment according to claim 7 in which the adjustable back has an elasticated strap and hook arrangement for enabling the maternity garment to vary in size.

10. A maternity garment according to any one of claims 1 - 6 in which the outer portion has a non-adjustable back, whereby the maternity garment is a one size only maternity garment

11. A maternity garment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer portion has an open back which is secured at an upper part by securing means.

12. A maternity garment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer portion is of a shape that defines the appearance of at least that part of the maternity garment that fits around the neck and breasts of the women wearing the maternity garment.

13. A maternity garment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the outer portion extends downwardly farther than the inner portion.

14. A maternity garment according to any one of claims 1-12 in which the inner portion extends downwardly farther than the outer portion.