Abstract:
The present invention relates to a nursing tank garment provided with smart openings, i.e., openings which are fashionable and stylish, offering a limited display of a female breast, to allow for the upmost privacy and dignity during breast feeding and nursing pads associated with breast-feeding wherein the nursing tank garment with smart openings has two breast feeding locations each location having a smart opening which is provided with silicone or silicone like material to ensure securement of the nursing pad to the nursing tank garment. The nursing pads are also composed of silicone or silicone like material on their circumferences to ensure securement to the smart openings. The nursing pads are further constructed for complete removal, if desired, from the nursing tank garment and is also capable of absorbing fluids from a nursing mother or woman or woman to prevent leaking from the tank garment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to clothing, and more specifically to apparel for nursing women and more particularly relates to a nursing tank garment constructed for the upmost privacy and manner for breast feeding by allowing a limited display of a female breast by the use of fashionable and stylish openings, i.e., a smart opening construction, wherein only the nipple and areola of the breast of the mother or woman is exposed for breast feeding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Various types of apparel are available for nursing mothers, one of the most common being a nursing tank garment. A nursing tank garment can be worn as outerwear but usually it is worn as an under garment under a blouse or similar clothing and is provided with a removable cover or flap to allow for breast feeding. However, these types of under garments are awkward, time consuming and clumsy for the nursing mother as they require the mother to unbutton or raise the blouse or similar garment while attempting to open the cover or flap to reveal the breast for feeding. Many times, the nursing mother is attempting to perform these tasks with the nursing infant in her arms creating anxiety for the mother. In addition, all of these movements required of the nursing mother draw attention to her activity, and in public venues can be embarrassing, undignified, and stressful to the nursing mother. 
         [0003]    There is a need for nursing apparel which can provide the nursing mother or woman with privacy and dignity along with easy access of the nursing baby, that is quick and convenient as well as fashionable and stylish, i.e. a smart opening, limiting exposure of the breast to the areola and nipple of the nursing mother or woman. 
         [0004]    U.S. Patent Application No. US 2008/0022434 to Adelmann for a Nursing Tank Top discloses a tank top adapted for breast nursing comprising a garment having a shoulder strap capable of being lowered to reveal an inner nursing bra but lacks any feature for a smart or fashionable opening construction. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,809 to Rothman entitled Strectchable Nursing Tank Top With Invisible Breast Support shows a form fitting nursing tank top composed of stretch fabric also having built-in nursing bra but without any provision for a limited opening for fashionable or stylish opening access. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,090 to Lucock entitled Nursing Garment teaches a nursing garment with a front panel divided into upper and lower sections provided with optional nursing pads absent any provision for a smart fashionable opening feature allowing limited access to the breast nipple and areola area of the breast. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,881 to Hendrickson for a Pull Up Nursing Garment discloses a nursing garment constructed with inner and outer bodices such that the outer bodice is capable of being pulled up to reveal the inner bodice but is wanting any fashionable or stylish opening feature accessing only the nipple areola area of the nursing mother&#39;s or woman&#39;s breast. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present nursing tank garment relates to a new and improved nursing tank garment for use by an nursing mother or woman to cover and protect the breasts of the mother or woman and to allow the mother or woman to nurse with the upmost privacy and dignity by permitting only a limited display of a breast of the mother or woman, in a fashionable and stylish manner, i.e. a smart manner, for breast feeding, particularly in public. The present nursing tank garment has a pair of openings constructed to expose only the breast nipples and areolas of the breasts of the nursing mother or woman. The nursing tank garment is further provided with engagement and securing means, for example, in the form of either a clasp or hook, on each opening for attaching a nursing pad which pad also functions as a cover means for each opening. The engagement and securing means could also consist of hook and loop fastners, such as VELCRO® fasteners, magnetic strips, snaps, zippers, buttons or slide fasterners. In addition, each breast nipple and areola opening is provided with silicone and silicone like material on its circumference to enhance and ensure securement of the nursing pads to the tank garment. Additionally, the nursing pads are flexible and absorbent and are attached to the exterior side of the tank garment to cover the openings thereby covering only the breast nipples and areolas. The nursing pads are consisted of circular base portions provided with engagement and securement structures on their circumferences in the form of silicone or silicone like material which assists in securing the pads to the openings. The nipple and the areola openings allow for the nursing tank garment wearer to feed a nursing infant milk from the breast with limited exposure of the breasts in a fashionable and stylish manner, i.e. a smart opening manner, therefore ensuring the greatest sense of privacy. In addition, the use of silicone or silicone material on the openings and nursing pads assist in preventing leakage of fluids, such as milk, from the breasts when the openings are closed. The present nursing tank garment may also be formed of soft disposable fabric or durable cloth. The nursing tank garment and nursing pads may also be laundered and cleaned for reuse or the nursing pads may, alternatively, may be discarded after one or several uses. 
         [0009]    The present nursing tank garment with smart openings is easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed, is of durable and reliable construction, is economically affordable and available for a relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
         [0010]    Thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the nursing tank garment as discussed in the detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the nursing tank garment that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0011]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the nursing tank garment in detail, it is to be understood that the nursing tank garment is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The nursing tank garment is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0012]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the constructing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present nursing tank garment. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they conform to the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0013]    An object of the present nursing tank garment is to allow nursing mothers and women to nurse their children in public in a i.e. fashionable and stylish opening fashion, i.e. in a smart opening manner, with the upmost degree of privacy and dignity by allowing only the display of the nipple and areola area of the breast for feeding. 
         [0014]    Another object of the present nursing tank garment is to provide a nursing mother or woman with a quickly releasable nursing pad which will make the nipple and areola of the breast of the mother or woman readily available to the nursing infant. 
         [0015]    Still even another object of the present nursing tank garment is to prevent leakage during breast feeding and during non-breast feeding time. 
         [0016]    Still yet another object of the present nursing tank garment is to provide a re-usable and washable nursing tank garment and nursing pad. 
         [0017]    It is therefore even yet another object of the present invention to provide a nursing tank garment which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing tank garment which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
         [0019]    It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a nursing tank garment which is of durable and reliable construction. 
         [0020]    It is a still even further object of the present invention to provide a nursing tank garment which is economically affordable and available for relevant market segment of the purchasing public. 
         [0021]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims. 
         [0022]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, any description of the exemplary or preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. Similarly, the term “mother”, “woman” and “user” and their plurals can be used interchangeably in the description. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the garment be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Finally, the terms “smart opening”, “smart openings” or in a “smart opening manner” refer to opening or openings in the nursing tank garment which only display of the nipple and areola area of a breast of a nursing mother or woman usually for feeding of a nursing infant. 
         [0023]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to a certain preferred embodiment thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred embodiment(s) contained herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a three quarters front elevation view of a nursing tank garment with smart openings according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 3 , showing particularly the nursing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4   a  is a detailed enlarged exploded view of  FIG. 4  showing the nursing pad and its relationship to the nursing tank garment with smart openings according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 1 , showing particularly the nursing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5   a  is a detailed enlarged exploded view of  FIG. 5  showing the nursing pad and its relationship to the nursing tank garment with smart openings according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a three quarters front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings being worn by a mother or woman and having a exploded view of the breast area showing the nursing pad according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a three quarters front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings being worn by a mother or woman and having a exploded view of the breast area showing the nursing pad in an open position according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  shows the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 7  in use with a nursing infant. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]    For a more detailed description of the present invention, reference is made to the figures. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a three quarters front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings  1  having a body  11 , an upper body area  17 , a right shoulder strap  15 , a left shoulder strap  14 , a right breast area  19 , a right breast smart nursing pad  13 , a left breast area  18 , a left breast smart nursing pad  12  and a lower body area  16 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  shows a front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings  1  having a body  11 , an upper body area  17 , a right shoulder strap  15 , a left shoulder strap  16 , a right breast area  19 , a right breast smart nursing pad  13 , a left breast area  18 , a left breast smart nursing pad  12  and a lower body area  16 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings  1  having a body  11 , an upper body area  17 , a right shoulder strap  15 , a right breast area  19 , a right breast smart nursing pad  13 , and a lower body area  16  with the opposite side of the nursing tank , i.e. the left side of the nursing tank garment with smart openings  1  being a mirror image thereof. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings of  FIG. 3 , showing particularly the nursing tank garment  1  having a body  11 , an upper body area  17 , a right shoulder strap  15 , a right breast area  19 , a right breast smart nursing pad  13 , a smart nursing pad opening  33 , and a lower body area  16 , the opposite side of the nursing tank garment  1 , i.e. the left side of the nursing tank  1 , being a mirror image thereof. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4   a  is a detailed exploded view of  FIG. 4  showing the right breast smart nursing pad  13  and its relationship to the nursing tank garment particularly showing the right breast smart nursing pad  13  relative to the right breast smart nursing pad opening  33 . All details of the right breast smart nursing pad  13  and of the right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  are a mirror image of and identical to those of the left breast smart nursing pad  12  and left breast smart nursing pad opening  32 . Referring again to  FIG. 4   a , right breast smart nursing pad  13  is shown is a side profile view and particularly shows the outer concave structure of pad inner member  70 , which member is composed of fluid absorbent material and an annular ring portion  80  composed of silicone or silicone type material. Right breast smart nursing pad  13  is further provided a with an upper fastener  82  and a lower fastener  84  which co-operate with right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  upper fastener  86  and right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  lower fastener  88  to fasten and secure right breast smart nursing pad  13  to the right breast smart nursing pad opening  33 . As previously disclosed, fasteners  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88  can comprise any conventional type fastener known in the art such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, hooks, clasps and etc. In addition, right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  is shown in detail particularly having an annular member  35  having the same shape and size of the right breast smart nursing pad annular member  80 . Right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  annular member  35  is composed of the same silicone or silicone type material as right smart nursing breast pad  13  annular member  80  to aid in securement when the right smart nursing breast smart nursing pad  13  is attached to right breast smart nursing pad opening  33  of the nursing tank garment. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the nursing tank garment  1  of  FIG. 1 , showing particularly the nursing tank garment  1  having a body  11 , an upper body area  17 , a right shoulder strap  15 , a left shoulder strap  14 , a right breast area  19 , a right breast smart nursing pad  13 , a left breast area  18 , a left breast smart nursing pad  12  and a lower body area  16  wherein the left breast smart nursing pad  12  is shown separated from the nursing tank garment revealing a left breast smart nursing pad opening  32 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5   a  is a detailed exploded view of  FIG. 5  showing the left smart nursing breast pad  12  and its relationship to the nursing tank garment showing particularly left smart nursing breast pad  12  having been remove from the nursing tank garment, and further shows details of the left breast smart nursing pad opening  32 . All details of the left breast smart nursing pad  12  and details of the left smart nursing breast pad opening  32  associated with left smart nursing breast pad are identical to those of right breast smart nursing pad  13  and its associated right smart nursing breast pad opening  33 . Referring again to  FIG. 5   a , the left breast smart nursing pad  12  is shown in substantial detail particularly the circular shape of left breast smart nursing pad  13  having a pad inner member  40  composed of material capable of absorbing a fluid and an outer circumference annular ring member  50  composed of silicone or silicone type material. Left breast smart nursing pad  12  is further provided with an upper fastener  42  and a lower fastener  44  which co-operate and engage with upper fastener  46  and lower fastener  48  located with left smart nursing breast pad opening  32 . As previously disclosed, fasteners  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  can comprise any conventional type fastener known in the art such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, hooks, clasps and etc. In addition, left breast smart nursing pad opening  32  is shown in detail, in particular, left breast smart nursing pad opening  32  is shown as being the same circular shape and size of the left breast smart nursing pad  12 . In addition, left breast smart nursing pad opening  32  is provided with an annular ring member  34  which is the same shape and size as annular ring member  50  of left breast smart nursing pad  12 . Additionally, the annular ring member  34  of left breast smart nursing pad opening  33  is composed of the same silicone or silicone type material as that of the left breast smart nursing pad annular ring member  50  to facilitate tight and leak proof securement when the breast smart nursing pad  12  is attached to the left breast smart nursing pad opening  32  of the nursing tank garment. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  is a three quarters front elevation view of the nursing tank garment with smart openings being worn by a mother or woman and having a exploded view of the left breast area showing the left breast smart nursing pad and a combined view of the smart nursing breast pad and the nursing tank garment being worn by a user, the right breast smart nursing pad being attached in a front view and the left cup of the tank garment in being shown in cross section with the left breast smart nursing pad  12  being shown in an exploded view and separated from the nursing tank garment. Particularly,  FIG. 6  shows the nursing tank garment  1  being worn by a user  2 , typically a nursing mother or woman, where the nursing tank garment  1  has a body  11  with right breast area  19  and left breast area  18 , the left breast area being shown in cross-section. Also shown are the breast smart nursing pads  13  and  12  both being shown in front view. Additionally,  FIG. 6  shows that the left breast smart nursing pad  12  covers and conceals only the nipple and areola area  90  of a breast of the user  2  such when the left breast smart nursing pad  12  removed for breast feeding, there is the limited exposure of the breast , thereby allowing the user to nurse in a smart opening style and fashion. In typical use, when the nursing mother or woman desires to nurse an infant, the mother or woman will unfasten the breast smart nursing pad, here, left breast smart nursing pad  12 , and revealing only the nipple and aeorla area of her breast. After nursing the infant, the nursing mother or woman may reattach the original breast smart nursing pad  12  or replace it with a substitute facsimile breast smart nursing pad. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a combined view of the breast pads and the nursing tank garment being worn by a user, the right pad being attached in a front view and the left pad of the nursing tank garment being shown in an open position ready for use. Particularly,  FIG. 7  shows the nursing tank garment  1  being worn by a user, typically a nursing mother or woman,  2  where the nursing tank garment  1  has a body  11  with a right breast area  19 , a left breast area  18 , a right breast nursing pad  13  being shown is front view and a left breast nursing pad  12  being shown in three-quarters front view.  FIG. 7  also shows the left breast nursing pad  12  in an open position being unfastened from the left breast area  18  of the nursing tank garment at fastener  46 , and corresponding left breast nursing pad fastener  42 , but remaining fastened in a hinged manner to the left breast area  18  by fasteners  44  and  48 . Additionally,  FIG. 7  shows that when left breast nursing pad  12  is opened, left breast nursing pad opening  32  is exposed and reveals only the nipple and areola area  90  of the breast of the user  2 . This limited breast exposure is to be known as a smart opening style or fashion. As further demonstrated in  FIG. 7 , the user  2 , after nursing her infant, either closes and refastens left breast nursing pad  12  using fasteners  42  and  46  or she may replace the nursing pad with a substitute facsimile nursing pad of the left breast nursing pad  12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows the nursing tank garment of  FIG. 7  in use with a an nursing infant; particularly when the nursing infant  3  needs to fed, the nursing mother or woman  2 , will unfastened the upper pad fastener, here, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the left breast nursing pad fastener  46 , thereby allowing the left breast nursing pad  12  to be lowered and exposing only the nipple and areola area  90  of a breast of the nursing mother or woman , in a smart opening stylish fashion, and for the infant  3  to nurse while giving the nursing mother or woman  2  the upmost privacy and dignity.