A multi-layered nursing garment including a shoulder strap, a support strap, an inner breast cup, an outer breast cup, and multiple connectors including: a first connector attached to the outer breast cup; a second connector attached to the shoulder strap; a third connector attached to the inner breast cup; a fourth connector attached to the outer breast cup; and a fifth connector (support strap connector) attached to the support strap. In various modes, opening/lowering of the outer breast cup is achieved concurrently or independently of the inner breast cup and vice versa to selectively facilitate breastfeeding and/or breast pumping (e.g., hands-free breast pumping).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to a nursing garment and, more specifically, to a multi-layered nursing garment for comfortably breastfeeding or pumping or expressing of breast milk.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Breastfeeding, including pumping or expressing of breast milk, has important benefits including nutrition and immunity to illnesses for a baby, as well as psychological factors such as mother/baby bonding. Additional benefits of breastfeeding include (for the baby): breastmilk is easier for a baby to digest and is “made to order” (breastmilk composition changes as baby ages and even throughout the day to meet a growing baby's needs), associated with increased IQ, decreased risk of obesity, decreased risk of childhood illness and cancers (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, ear infections), decreased risk of SIDS, and increased bonding between mother and baby.

Risks of not breastfeeding include (for the mother): increased risk of obesity, increased risk of blood pressure instability, return of menstrual cycle possibly leading to closely spaced pregnancy and lack of conservation of nutrients, increased rate of postpartum depression, increased sleep disturbances, increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, increased risk of Rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. Additional negative effects of unsuccessful breastfeeding are working mothers missing more workdays due to increase in baby being sick, increased cost due to purchase of formula, and increase in health expenses due to decreased health.

The above benefits and risks are well documented in scientific theory and literature. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide inventions that make it easier and more comfortable for a woman to nurse (including the pumping or expression of breast milk).

Many nursing garments are known in the prior art. However, opening or closing the breast cups of these nursing garments while managing other factors can be difficult. A nursing woman is physically restricted in her ability to manage these factors while securing and maintaining breast cups in place. A long-felt need has existed for a nursing garment that will allow a woman to both breastfeed and/or pump, either alternately or simultaneously, from different breasts, without the woman having to change her clothes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein is a multi-layered nursing garment. The nursing garment includes, at least in part, an inner breast cup configured to cover a first breast of a wearer, an outer breast cup configured to cover the inner breast cup and a shoulder strap. In various modes, opening/lowering of the outer breast cup is achieved independently of the inner breast cup and vice versa to selectively facilitate breastfeeding and/or breast pumping (e.g., hands-free breast pumping).

The nursing garment includes multiple connectors: the outer breast cup is attached to a first connector, the shoulder strap is attached to a second connector and the inner breast cup is attached to a third connector. The outer breast cup is further attached to a fourth connector and the third connector is configured to couple the fourth connector. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth connector includes a loop and is attached to an interior side of the outer breast cup.

In an embodiment, the first connector is configured to couple to the second connector such that the outer breast cup can be selectively opened or closed relative to the shoulder strap (via decoupling or coupling of the first connector and the second connector).

Preferably, the multi-layered nursing garment further includes a support strap attached to a fifth connector (a support strap connector) and the third connector (attached to the inner breast cup) is configured to be coupled to the fifth connector. As such, the inner breast cup is selectively connectable to the outer breast cup (at the fourth connector) or directly to the support strap (at the fifth connector). In a preferred embodiment, the support strap is connected to the second connector via the fifth connector (to connect the support strap and the shoulder strap) and the fifth connector includes a loop. In some embodiments, the fifth connector includes a second loop or both a second loop and a third loop.

In some embodiments, the inner breast cup includes an opening. Preferably, the opening is configured to receive a portion of a breast pump.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a nursing bra or other nursing garment with two breast cups of multilayer fabric, each of which can be opened for breastfeeding or pumping the milk from breasts with ease of opening or closing breast cups separately. The invention further provides various connectors that allow a nursing woman to peel off one or more layers of the nursing garments as per her convenience.

The term “nursing” is defined as breastfeeding, which, in turn, can relate to pumping or expressing of milk. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless this disclosure explicitly requires otherwise. The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. The term “coupled” is defined as connected or attached, although not necessarily directly unless otherwise specified, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “decoupled” is defined as detached or disconnected. The term “connector” refers generally to a device that can used in reversibly coupling two or more objects together by means of a mechanical connection, e.g., a hook, button, loop, clasp, clip, snap or other known means of removable attachment.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, embodiments of the inventions are shown. While the following description details preferred embodiments of the present invention, this patent application is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With reference to the figures, numerical designation has been given for each element to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, and particularly with reference to the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the figures. Various preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed description and drawings are merely illustrative of preferred embodiments and represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses of the present invention are illustrated and set forth in this disclosure, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and configuration of those components described herein and shown in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the overall scope and function of the invention set forth herein.

Referring now to the figures, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a multi-layer nursing garment is described. As shown inFIGS.1and2, a nursing garment100is depicted as a brassiere or bra. However, it should be appreciated that nursing garment100may be otherwise embodied. For example, in some embodiments, nursing garment100may be embodied as a nursing bra but need not be limited to a nursing bra. For instance, nursing garment100can take the form of a nursing top, a nursing shirt, nursing tank, nursing camisole, nursing nightgown, nursing dress or other item of women's clothing used for breastfeeding and including the features described herein and/or is otherwise capable of performing the functions described herein. Nursing garment100includes a body support102having a front portion104connected through side portions105to a back portion106. Front portion104and side portions105connect to a pair of outer breast cups110. In some embodiments, portions104-106and outer breast cups110are formed integrally. Top portions111of outer breast cups110are attached to first connectors112. A pair of shoulder straps120each has a second connector122attached to a respective first end123thereof. Some connectors used in nursing garment100, including second connectors122, are described in further detail below with reference toFIGS.8-12. As shown in the embodiment ofFIGS.1and2, first connectors112are configured to couple to respective second connectors122. Second ends124of shoulder straps120connect to back portion106. Adjustment mechanisms125are located on straps120between first ends123and second ends124to assist in adjusting the lengths of straps120to provide a more comfortable fit for the wearer.

FIG.3illustrates that nursing garment100further includes a pair of inner breast cups130(one inner breast cup130per outer breast cup110). Inner breast cups130are configured to cover the breasts of a wearer and outer breast cups110are configured to cover inner breast cups130. Inner and outer breast cups130,110can be made of the same material or different garment fabric materials without limiting the scope of the invention. Top portions131of inner breast cups130are attached to third connectors132. At least one of inner breast cups130includes an opening133(seeFIG.6) to permit breastfeeding or pumping milk from the breast. Outer breast cups110are further shown to include fourth connectors142attached to an interior side thereof, near top portions111. Nursing garment100further includes, as shown at least inFIGS.2and3, support straps150attached to fifth connectors152(support strap connectors152) at first ends153thereof. Support straps150are connected, via fifth connectors152, to second connectors122(and therefore to shoulder straps120) and are attached at second ends154to body support102.

Nursing garment100functions in a variety of modes to provide nursing support (e.g., selective breastfeeding or breast pumping) without removing garment100. In particular, each of outer breast cups110may be selectively opened and closed via coupling or decoupling of first connectors112and second connectors122, while each of inner breast cups130may be selectively opened and closed via coupling or decoupling of third connectors132with either fourth connectors142(attached to outer breast cups110) or fifth connectors152(provided along support straps150). A wearer may wear nursing garment100throughout the day and may maneuver the inner and/or outer breast cups110,130, as needed, depending on whether it is necessary to breastfeed or pump breast milk as described further below. By removing the need to frequently change clothes, the wearer benefits both in terms of convenience and saving time, as well as avoiding the need to subject nursing garments to excessive washing, thereby minimizing inherent wear and tear that accompanies washing.

FIGS.1-3show nursing garment100in a first mode in which first connectors112are coupled to second connectors122such that outer breast cups110cover inner breast cups130. In this first mode, the user does not have immediate access to inner breast cups130or the wearer's breasts beneath inner breast cups130. This first mode is one embodiment of how nursing garment100may be worn during times when breastfeeding or breast pumping is not needed. Also in this first mode, third connectors132of inner breast cups130are coupled with fourth connectors142of outer breast cups110so as to facilitate breastfeeding via the simultaneous opening/lowering of an outer breast cup110and an inner breast cup130together (e.g., a second mode as shown inFIG.4and described further below).

FIG.4shows nursing garment100in a second mode in which a wearer's breast is accessed, such as for breastfeeding. As discussed above, inner breast cup130is coupled to a respective outer breast cup110via the coupling of third and fourth connectors132and142, respectively. First connector112of outer breast cup110is decoupled from second connector122and together the inner breast cup130and outer breast cup110are simultaneously lowered to reveal a wearer's breast. Shoulder strap120remains in place due to its attachment to support strap150. A wearer who is primarily breastfeeding or otherwise needing access to the entire breast would likely operate nursing garment100in the first and second modes shown inFIGS.1-4.

FIG.5shows nursing garment100in a third mode, which is an alternative to the first mode ofFIGS.1-3, wherein, instead of inner cups130being connected to outer cups110via coupling of third connectors132and fourth connectors142(first mode), inner cups130are attached to support straps150via coupling of third connectors132and fifth connectors152. As with the first mode, in the third mode, the user does not have immediate access to inner breast cups130or the wearer's breasts beneath inner breast cups130. This third mode is another embodiment showing how nursing garment100may be worn during times when breastfeeding or breast pumping is not needed. Unlike in the first mode, in the third mode, third connectors132of inner breast cups130are not coupled with fourth connectors142of outer breast cups110. As such, opening/lowering of an outer breast cup110is achieved independently of an inner breast cup130and vice versa. This third mode may be beneficial when the wearer is primarily pumping as discussed more fully below with reference to a fourth mode as shown inFIGS.6and7.

FIGS.6and7show nursing garment100in a fourth mode in which an inner cup130is accessed, such as for hands-free breast pumping. In this configuration, at least one of inner breast cups130is coupled to a respective support strap150via coupling of third and fifth connectors132and152, respectively (i.e., as in the third mode described above). As shown, first connector112of outer breast cup110is decoupled from second connector122and outer breast cup110is opened/lowered to reveal inner cup130and its opening133. Opening133provides access to the wearer's breast for e.g., hands-free breast pumping. For example, a breast shield or flange of a breast pump (not shown) is inserted into opening133to dispose the shield or flange in contact with the breast. Preferably, inner breast cup130and opening133together support/secure the breast pump such that the wearer does not manually hold the pump and the wearer is free to use their hands for other tasks during pumping (e.g., the materials used for inner breast cup130have elasticity and/or the opening133is disposed at an oblique angle). Although opening133is shown as a horizontal cut-out opening in inner breast cup130, one or ordinary skill in the art would recognize that different designs/orientations may be employed (e.g., a vertical slit, a diagonal stitched seam having a section of overlapping fabric that parts to reveal an opening, or the like). In any case, it should be clear that wearer who is primarily breast pumping or otherwise just needs access to inner cup130would likely operate nursing garment100in the third and fourth modes shown inFIGS.5-7.

Although not shown, other modes are encompassed by the features of present invention as would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. In particular, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize the ability to use one or more of the connectors to sequentially open different layers of the nursing garment, and to allow the nursing mother to select from breastfeeding and milk pumping as an option for either breast, and she can do so simultaneously with one breast being used for breastfeeding and the other for milk pumping if such is desirable. For example, as a hybrid of the first and third modes, one of inner cups130may be attached to its respective support strap150while the other of inner cups130may be attached to its respective outer cup110such that one of the wearer's breasts is primarily accessed for breastfeeding (the inner and outer cup are simultaneously opened/lowered together) while the other one of the wearer's breasts is primarily accessed for breast pumping (via the inner cup; just the outer cup is opened/lowered).

FIGS.8-12show embodiments of various connectors in detail. As shown, a second connector122features a hook160and well as an upper opening161and a lower opening162. Preferably, as depicted in previous figures, first connector112couples second connector122via hook160. In particular, first connector112preferably includes an opening to receive hook160and a tab portion to engage hook160.FIGS.11and12show how second connector122bridges shoulder strap120and support strap150, with first end123of shoulder strap120fed through upper opening161and first end153of support strap150fed through lower opening162.FIGS.11and12also show an embodiment of fifth connector152. Unlike fifth connector152shown in the previous figures, fifth connector152shown inFIGS.11and12features multiple loops170to which third connector132(shown as a generally S-shaped hook, unlabeled) can couple.FIGS.11and12further show third connector132includes an opening (not labeled) opposite the hook portion through which top end131of inner bra cup130is fed. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the S-shaped hook of third connector132could be selectively positioned by the wearer in any one of loops170(and possibly even the portion of strap150fed through opening162) to adjust the tension of inner cup130(attached to body portion102at its other end) as needed.

Although described with reference to preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, particular designs for the various connectors (e.g., second connector122, third connector123) have been set forth above. However, as also referenced above, other designs for the connectors are possible without departing from the invention. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.