Abstract:
A nursing garment in which the front panel is divided into upper and lower sections whereby the upper section is overlaps and is attached to the lower section via a detachable seam extending horizontally across the front of the garment below the breast. Optionally nursing pads are placed into annular pockets.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to tank tops and similar garments worn by nursing mothers to facilitate the breast feeding of babies. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the most stressful challenges facing new mothers is breast feeding their baby. Many new mothers are reluctant to go out in public for fear their baby will need to be fed and that they will not be able to do this in comfort and without embarrassing themselves or others. 
     Breastfeeding a new baby in public can be a daunting task for a new mother for a number of reasons. Many restaurant, business and shopping precincts do not provide any area for breastfeeding other than the rest room. Where facilities are provided the mother is then separated from friends and family for the duration of the feeding period. Even in the privacy of the homes of friends and families, new mothers are often self conscious about exposing their breast or stomach depending on the way they choose to breastfeed. 
     While Australian law stipulates that mothers can breastfeed in public, and some experienced mothers are able to do this discreetly, most new mothers share the same problems and fears in relation to breastfeeding. Specifically ordinary tops must either be lifted from the bottom exposing post-partum stomachs or dropped from the top exposing enlarged breasts. Nursing bras are cumbersome and difficult to open and close under normal clothes. 
     Existing breast feeding garments either look like nursing bras in their general design or are large cumbersome coveralls or capes that draw even more attention to the fact that the mother is breastfeeding. Also, vests and tank tops worn as external garments or worn beneath conventional garments, are not long enough to cover a post-partum stomach and do not provide the support required for enlarged breasts, nor to hold breast pads in place. They are often not of a fabric quality suitable for hiding breast pads and usually draw attention to the fact that the mother is breastfeeding. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to ameliorate some of the disadvantages and limitations of traditional prior art nursing garments by providing a top which is easy to open and close and allows the mother to breast feed her baby discretely and in comfort. 
     STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one but not necessarily the only aspect, the invention resides in a garment top in which the front panel is divided into an upper section and a lower section with the upper attached to the lower section in a detachable seam extending across the front of the garment just below the breasts. 
     Preferably, the upper section of the garment is attached to the lower section by fixing means which include press studs, VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners, hooks and eyes, magnetic strips, zips, buttons and slide fasteners. 
     Preferably, the garment incorporates circular pockets on the inside of the upper section adjacent to the breast nipples, which pockets are adapted to receive nursing pads. 
     Preferably, the lower section of the garment provides ample space to accommodate the enlarged stomach of a mother before and after birth. 
     Alternatively, the upper section of the garment is designed in a crossover style, which nicely accommodates enlarged breasts. 
     Alternatively, the upper section of the garment is designed in a V neck style. 
     Alternatively, the upper section of the garment has long sleeves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a nursing top according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view through the line AA shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  shows the mother wearing the top of  FIG. 1 , feeding her baby. 
         FIG. 5  shows an alternative cross-over top design. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the top shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , being worn. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1  a tank top  1  of conventional appearance is shown. However it has been modified in accordance with the present invention by providing an upper section  11  which is detachable below the breasts from the lower section  12 . A horizontal seam  13  of press studs is provided for attachment of the two sections for normal wearing. 
     When the mother wishes to feed her baby she unclips the press studs  13  below the feeding breast which allows the baby to access the nipple. It will be apparent that this results in minimal exposure of the breast since the babies head tends to cover the limited opening provided in the garment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     The cross-section view of  FIG. 2  shows how upper section  11  of the top overlaps and clips onto lower section  12 . It also reveals an annular pocket  14  which holds breast pads  15  securely in place over the nipples. Breast pads  15  can easily be replaced by unclipping the press studs thus allowing easy access to the pocket. 
     The horizontal seam  13  under the breasts which carries the press studs can be disguised by use of a feature fabric such as lace or piping so that there is no external evidence of the top being a breast feeding garment. The press stud tape used to attach the top section to the lower section of the garment could be replaced with a VELCRO® hook and loop fastener strip, hooks and eyes, magnetic strips, zips, buttons or slide fasteners. 
     In  FIG. 5  an alternative crossover design of tank top incorporating the present invention is shown. This style is particularly attractive as it tends to flatter the enlarged breasts of a nursing mother.  FIG. 6  illustrates the ample lower section of the top which attractively accommodates the enlarged stomach of the mother both before and after birth. 
     The garment can be worn either by itself or underneath an external garment such as a coat. In the latter case the coat does not have to be removed but simply opened to provide access to the breast for the baby. 
     Accordingly it will be seen that the nursing garment of the present invention does not suffer from the traditional problems of for example, the maternity bra. The latter only serves as an undergarment, is cumbersome to detach from the upper bra strap and provides no cover when the baby is feeding. Similarly the external garments based on the nursing bra design all rely on the bra style fastener and the drop down method which draws attention to the fact that the mother is breast feeding. 
     The present invention provides a comfortable and breathable garment which is suitable for day wear or sleepwear. It also provides additional support and coverage which is ideal for the later months of pregnancy. 
     VARIATIONS 
     It will be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as herein set forth. 
     Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word comprise and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives components, integers or steps.