US3532096A

US3532096A - Breast protector

Info

Publication number: US3532096A
Application number: US716030A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sharon A Seidl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-03-26
Filing date: 1968-03-26
Publication date: 1970-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 1987-10-06

Description

Unite States atent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1889 Wheeler.......................

[72] Inventor Sharon A. Seidl,

149 Garhe Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55119 716,030

[21] Appl. No.

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.S m: .rd Un .l e WCM 9 2 0055 899 lll 722 8 9 10 ,7 69 21 mt d MO d 8 m d em a FP n 4 [54] BREAST PROTECTOR 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

brassiere to prevent direct contact between the brassiere and 128/280, 128/430, 128/460, 128/477, 128/510 the breast nipples. Each protector comprises a foraminous [51] A4lc3/00 [50] Field ofSearch....................r.......................

cup-shaped member adapted to enclose the nipple. Radially 128/463, extending strap means extend from the rim of the member for 430, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 460, 134, 477, 150, use in pinning the protector to the brassiere. The protector is 148, 280, 282, 510 preferably made of somewhat flexible and resilient plastic.

Patented Oct. 6, 1970 3,532,096

A "23 24 F763 E705 INVENTOR SHAAw/v ,4. 55/01.

ATTORNEY BREAST PROTECTOR This invention relates to an improvement in breast protector and deals particularly with a protective device designed to protect the nipple of the breast from contact with clothing, while allowing the air to circulate and thereby heal the breast tissue.

It is a known fact that a substantial precentage of mothers who are breast feeding babies are suffering from irritated breast nipples. The irritation is increased by the contact of brassieres covering the breasts which eliminate proper air circulation for healing. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a protective covering for holding clothing out of contact with the breasts in the area of the nipples. thus greatly reducing the pair and irritation often present during the breast feeding period. The brassiere mentioned is preferably of the type known as a maternity brassiere. Such brassieres usually have a curved strap extending above and below each breast in place of imperforate breast receiving cups. A flexible covering cup is secured to the lower strap beneath the nipple area of the breast and maybe detachably secured in raised position covering the breast opening between the straps. The covering cup may be folded down to expose the nipple for breast feeding.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a breast protector which permits air to circulate freely in the nipple area of the breasts so as to promote healing of the irritated tissue and prevent an increase in irritation due to the lack of air circulation. The breast protectors are in the form of foraminous cup-shaped frames which are designed to overlie the breast nipples and which remain out of contact therewith. These cup-shaped frames permit the flow of air therethrough which promotes healing of the irritated areas.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision ofa device of the type described in which the breast protectors are provided with straps which are designed to extend in opposite directions therefrom for use in attaching the protectors to the body of a maternity brassiere. The brassiere bodies are designed to encircle the breasts and to be positioned in a predetermined relation thereto. By properly locating the breast protectors with respect to the brassiere bodies, the protectors will be in proper position to encircle the breast nipples without contacting the same.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specif cation and claims.

In the drawings forming a part ofthe specification:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a maternity brassiere with the cups thereof folded downwardly, and showing the protectors in place therein.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the breast protectors removed from the brassiere.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the breast protector shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a portion of the protector, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a somewhat alternate form of construction.

FIG. 6 is a partial front elevational view of another modified form of contruction.

FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates the front portion of a maternity brassiere A including breast encircling portions on opposite sides of a central connecting portion 5. Each breast encircling portion includes an upper strap portion 6 and a lower strap portion 7, these portions curving above and below the nipple area of the breast and providing an aperture 8 which is normally covered by the outer cup portion 9 thereof which is secured to the lower strap portion 7 and is folded down to expose the nipple area. Straps 10 are secured to the upper strap portion 6 and are designed to extend over the shoulders to the horizontal strap portion of the brassiere which extends about the back of the wearer. The cup portion 9 is provided with an integral upwardly extending fastening means such as the strap 11, which may be secured to a fastener 12 on the strap 10 to hold the cup portion 9 in breast overlying position.

The protector B is indicated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, and is preferably formed ofa material which is sufficiently rigid to hold its shape, but yet is suffeciently resilient and flexible to engage the surface of the skin for substantial periods of time without causing irritation. Material of suitable types not irritating to the skin are preferably used.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, each breast protector B includes a circular ring 13 designed to contact the surface of the breast in spaced relation to the breast nipple. As an example, but not as a limitation, the ring 13 may be two and three-eights inches in diameter, or may be larger depending upon the size of the breasts. Diametrically opposed sides of the ring 13 are connected by substantially semi-circular arcuate ribs I4 which are connected to the ring 13 at their outer ends, and are interconnected together at their central point of intersection. As will be noted, the ribs 14 leave the major portion of the area open for the circulation of air. Thus the nipple area of the breast is not irritated by lack of air circulation during periods between breast feedings.

Extending in diametrically opposite directions from the center of the ring 13, I provide a pair of flexible straps 15 which may be employed for securing the breast protectors B in place of the pockets of the brassiere A. As indicated in the drawings, each strap 15 is provided with a series of longitudinally extending slits 16 extending in alignment therethrough, the slits being spaced apart and being designed to accommodate the shanks of pins 17 or other fastening means used to connect the straps 15 to the brassiere A. Intermediate the longitudinally extending slots 16, I provide grooves 19 which are substantially V-shaped in section. These V-shaped slots or grooves 19 are designed to increase the flexibility of the straps and to indicate locations where the straps may be readily cut off when the straps are too long.

Thus it will be seen that the straps 15 may be attached to the brassiere by pins or other fastening means which usually either extend through the spaced slots 16, but which may be snaps or other securing means. In the particular arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the arcuate ribs 14 are substantially semi-circular in cross section as is indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. However, the ribs may be of circular or similar section if preferred.

FIG. 5 of the drawings shows an arrangement similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with the exception of the fact that only the upper portion of the protectors are air permeable. As indicated in this figure, the lower half of the semi-circle protector C is solid and imperforate as indicated at 20. Radially extending ribs 21 which are similar to the upper portions of the ribs 14 connect the closed lower section 20 of the protector 20 to the peripheral semi-circular peripheral member 22. In brief terms, the protector C is substantially identical to the protector B with the exception of the fact that the lower half of the semi-circular enclosure is closed. The straps 23 which are similar in form to the straps 15 previously described form a means of connecting the protector C to the brassiere.

In F IG. 6 of the drawings, I disclose another modified form of construction which is designed to serve "the same purpose as the protectors B and C which have been described. The pro tector D comprises a substantially semispherical shell having its surface perforated as indicated at 24, the body of the shell being indicated by the numeral 25. The perforations 24 permit the circulation of air about the nipples of the breast. Diametrically opposed radially extending straps 26 which are similar to the straps l5 and 23 are provided for attaching the protector to the brassiere.

It is recognized that various types of breast cups have been used within brassieres. However, the use of a substantially semi-spherical cup-shaped body which encloses the nipple area of the breasts, and which allows the free flow of air therethrough, it is believed novel. This is particularly true in conjunction with the means for attaching the protectors to the brassiere. It has been found that protectors of this type prevent direct contact between the breast and the clothing of the wearer and thus tend to inhibit irritation or to.prevent further irritation to the nipples during the breast feeding period. The circulation of air tends to heal the nipples and to lessen the irritation thereof in accordance with the patent statutes. l have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in breast protector, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof l desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention,

lclaim: l. A breast protector for use in protecting breast nipples comprising:

foraminous cup-shaped members of sufficient size to enclose the breast nipple without coming in contact therewith and of substantially smaller diameter than the breast; and outwardly extending strap means secured to the edge ofsaid member and extending generally radially therefrom and adapted for use in securing the protector to a brassiere of substantially greater cup-shaped size 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said strap means includes a pair ofoppositely extending flexible straps 3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cup shaped member includes a circular rim connected by a series of diametrically extending arcuate intersecting ribs 4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said strap means in cludes a strap body having a substantially smooth surface on the concave side of said member, and a transversely grooved opposite surface.

5. The structure of claim I and in which said strap means is provided with longitudinally spaced perforations.

6. The structure of claim I and in which the lower portion of said cup-shaped member is substantially imperforate.

7. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cupshaped member is provided with a considerable number of spaced apertures therethroughi 8. The structure of claim 1 and including in combination a maternity brassiere having spaced breast exposing openings therein, and in which one of said cup shaped members is supported in each said breast receiving opening by said outwardly extending strap means and including means for securing said strap means to said brassiere.