Abstract:
A brassiere for supporting the breasts of a wearer and for receiving and supporting a funnel for expressing breast milk, comprising a pair of cups, at least one of which includes a first portion and a second portion having at least one elastic band. The first and second portion, and of the cup are expandable to allow a funnel to be selectively inserted between said first portion and said second portion, and under said first portion, and under said second portion, so as to contact said breast for expressing milk.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an improved brassiere for supporting the breasts of the wearer and for receiving and supporting a funnel for expressing breast milk that may be stored for later consumption by an infant. 
   At one time, the majority of mothers nourished their new-born infants by breast-feeding, but over the years, the trend changed to feeding infants with formula. Today, medical doctors recognize that infant formula is not sophisticated enough to supplant the benefits of breast milk, in part because the content of breast milk changes based on the infant&#39;s nutritional needs. For this reason, increasing numbers of women are once again breast feeding their children. 
   A woman who is nursing an infant typically will express breast milk to store for times when she is unable or unavailable to breast feed her infants. A woman expresses her milk by using an electric or manual pumping device in conjunction with a funnel, which the woman holds tightly against her nipple to create suction and to direct the flow of milk into a storage container. Often because of the length of time required to express milk, when using a pump, a woman will express both breasts simultaneously. To express both breasts, the woman must hold a funnel with each hand against her breasts, leaving her sitting in an awkward position, unable to enjoy other activities. The prior art does not solve this problem. 
   In the past, brassieres for breast feeding typically were made so as to allow a nursing infant access to the woman&#39;s breast. A typical example of this type of brassiere is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,501,860, which shows a brassiere with cups that allow an infant access to the woman&#39;s breasts by means of a flap that may be folded back. The infant gains access when the wearer folds back the cup flap thereby revealing an orifice formed by multiple pieces of material and reinforced by stitching. 
   A similar construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,925,816, which reveals a brassiere constructed with a flap that may be folded down from its normal position to give an infant access to the wearer&#39;s breast. The brassiere supports the breast when the flap is folded down by three portions of connected material. Once again, the material of the cup, which remains when the flap is folded down, is reinforced by stitching. This prior-art brassiere also allows a woman to insert a pad into the inside of the cup to absorb bodily excretions. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,466 discloses a similar brassiere with the ability to receive an absorbing pad that may also be used to enhance a woman&#39;s appearance. The cup is formed of three panels, a top and bottom panel and a reinforcing panel. The pad is attached to the reinforcing panel, which holds the pad in its proper position. 
   While prior-art brassieres allow an infant access to a woman&#39;s breast, they are not constructed to receive and support a funnel that can be attached to a breast pump to allow a woman to express breast milk. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a brassiere designed to allow fast, easy, and secure attachment of a funnel attached to a pump for expressing milk. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Generally speaking, the present invention is a brassiere for supporting the breasts of a wearer and for receiving and supporting a funnel for expressing breast milk. The brassiere is provided with at least one cup with an expandable opening in the center that easily stretches to allow a funnel to be inserted and at the same time supports the funnel, thereby freeing the woman&#39;s hands for doing other things. The brassiere is comprised of a pair of cups dimensioned to substantially cover a woman&#39;s breasts. The cups have an upper edge and an arcuate or curved edge. A connecting portion joins the cups at the inside of the curved edges of the cups. A back support is connected to the outer edge of the curved edges of the cups. At least one of the cups includes at least two portions that are each attached to the cup along the curved edge. These portions are positioned such that they are not attached at their common border. Elastic bands are attached to each of the two portions along their common border. A funnel may be selectively inserted between and under the first and second portions of the cups and positioned so as to contact a woman&#39;s breast for creating suction by means of a pump to express milk. With the funnel inserted, the elastic bands close back over the funnel mouth of the funnel to provide a snug and secure fit and support the funnel in its breast-contacting position. With the funnel or funnels firmly in place, the wearer may now express milk without holding the storage containers. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved brassiere for use in expressing breast milk. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a brassiere, constructed to free a woman&#39;s hands to do other activities while she expresses breast milk, by supporting a funnel that creates suction and directs the flow of milk into a storage container. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere with expandable openings that both allows a funnel to be positioned to express breast milk and supports the funnel when it is in the expressing position. 
   It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a brassiere for expressing milk that may be used as any other brassiere when not being used to express milk. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
   The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the brassiere with funnel and storage container constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the brassiere in the non-expressing position constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged front elevational view of the brassiere in the non-expressing position constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the brassiere in an unlatched position constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a brassiere, generally indicated at  20 , and constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment, is disclosed. Brassiere  20  includes a first cup  25  and a second cup  26 , a connector portion  30 , and a back support  32 . Connector portion  30  is sewn to an inner side  25   b   1  of arcuate edge  25   b of first cup  25  and an inner side  26   b   1  of arcuate  26   b of second cup  26 , thereby connecting first cup  25  and second cup  26 . Connector portion  30  may be made of a flexible material, such as Spandex, lace, or loosely knit cotton. 
   Back support  32  includes a first wing  32   a  and a second wing  32   b . First wing  32   a  is formed with a first end  32   a   1 , which is sewn to an outer side  25   b   2  of an arcuate edge  25   b  of first cup  25 , and a second end  32   a   2 . Similarly, second wing  32   b  is made up of a first end  32   b   1 , which is sewn to an outer side  26   b  of an arcuate edge  26   b   1  of second cup  26 , and a second end  32   b   2 . A releasable clasp  33  joins second end  32   a   2  of first wing  32   a  to second end  32   b   2  of second wing  32   b . Thus, when the wearer joins together clasp  33 , brassiere  20  becomes one contiguous piece consisting of first wing  32   a , second wing  32   b , second cup  26 , first cup  25 , and connecting portion  30 . 
   Shoulder straps  35  are used to further hold the brassiere on the wearer. Straps  35  are adjustably attached to cups  25  and  26  and first and second wings  32   a  and  32   b . As an alternative to clasp  33 , wings  32   a  and  32   b  may be a single piece of material. In this arrangement, connector portion  30  includes a clasp for releasably connecting cup  25  to cup  26 , so that, when the clasp is joined together, the brassiere becomes one contiguous piece consisting of back portion  32 , first cup  25 , connector  30  and second cup  26 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–4 , first cup  25  is formed with an upper edge  25   a , arcuate edge  25   b , a first portion  25   c , which functions as a lower flap, a second portion  25   d , which functions as a upper flap, a first elastic band  25   c   1  and second elastic band  25   d   1 . Upper edge  25   a  is connected to arcuate edge  25   b . Arcuate edge  25   b  may be reinforced along its entire length or for part of its length by, for example, an underwire  25   e . The arcuate edge of first portion  25   c  is sewn to arcuate edge  25   b . The curved outer edges of second portion  25   d  are sewn to inner side  25   b   1  of arcuate edge  25   b . First elastic band  25   c   1  is sewn to an upper edge of first portion  25   c . A first band end (not shown) of first elastic band  25   c   1  is sewn to outer side  25   b   2  of arcuate edge  25   b  and a second band end (not shown) of first elastic band  25   c   1  is sewn to inner side  25   b   1  of arcuate edge  25   b . Similarly, second elastic band  25   d   1  is sewn to the lower edge of second portion  25   d . A first band end  25   d   2  of second elastic band  25   d   1  is sewn to outer side  25   b   2  of arcuate edge  25   b  and a second band end  25   d   3  of second elastic band  25   d   1  is sewn to inner side  25   b   1  of arcuate edge  25   b . In this manner, when brassiere  20  is in an unflexed condition, elastic bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  overlap each other along their entire length. 
   Alternatively, first band  25   c   1  and second band  25   d   1  may be positioned essentially anywhere about cup  25  so long as they substantially overlap their midpoint is over the nipple of the breast. For example, first band end (not shown) of first elastic band  25   c   1  and first band end  25   d   2  of second elastic band  25   d   1  may be sewn to upper edge  25   a  at a point located between the outer side  25   b   2  of arcuate edge  25   b  and the location where shoulder strap  35  connects to upper edge  25   a.    
   A latch  25   f  best shown in  FIG. 4  is further provided to secure first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d  to one another when the wearer is not expressing breast milk. More specifically, latch  25   f  consists of a first latch element  25   f   1  and a second latch element  25   f   2 . First latch element  25   f   1  is affixed to a lower surface of elastic band  25   d   1  of first portion  25   d . Second latch element  25   f   2  is affixed to the upper surface of elastic band  25   c   1  of second portion  25   c . Latch  25   f  may consist of hook and loop elements, commonly known as VELCRO® fastener ( FIGS. 2–4 ), or any other means of securing elastic bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  when the wearer wears the brassiere in its non-expressing position. 
   Second cup  26  is constructed in a manner similar to first cup  25 . Second cup  26  is made up of an upper edge  26   a , an arcuate edge  26   b , a first portion  26   c , which functions as a lower flap, a second portion  26   d , which functions as an upper flap, a first elastic band  26   c   1  and a second elastic band  26   d   1 . Upper edge  26   a  is connected to arcuate edge  26   b . Arcuate edge  26   b  may be reinforced along its entire length or for part of its length by, for example, an underwire  26   e . The arcuate edge of first portion  26   c  is sewn to arcuate edge  26   b . The curved outer edges of second portion  26   d  are sewn to inner side  26   b   1  of arcuate edge  26   b . First elastic band  26   c   1  is sewn to an upper edge  26   c   4  of first portion  26   c . A first band end (not shown) of second elastic band  26   c   1  is sewn to outer side  26   b   2  of arcuate edge  26   b  and a second band end (not shown) of second elastic band  26   c   1  is sewn to inner side  26   b   1  of arcuate edge  26   b.    
   Similarly, a second elastic band of second cup  26  is sewn to the lower edge of the second portion of second cup  26 . A first band end of the second elastic band of cup  26  is sewn to the outer side of arcuate edge  26   b  and a second band end of the second elastic band of second cup  26  is sewn to inner side  26   b   1  of arcuate edge  26   b . In this manner, when brassiere  20  is in an unflexed condition, the first and second elastic bands of second cup  26  overlap each other along their entire length. 
     FIGS. 5–7  disclose another embodiment of the invention, like numbers being used to denote like parts. In place of latch  25   f , a latch  45   f  is used to secure first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d  one to the other when the wearer is not expressing breast milk. In this embodiment, latch  45   f  consists of a clasp. More specifically, clasp  45   f  consists of a first clasp element  45   f   1  and a second clasp element  45   f   2 . First latch element  45   f   1  is affixed to a lower surface of elastic band  25   c   1  of first portion  25   c . Second latch element  45   f   2  is affixed to the upper surface of elastic band  25   d   1  of second portion  25   d . As with the hook and loop fastener of latch  25   f  described above, when the wearer desires to express breast milk, funnel  40  ( FIG. 2 ) is inserted between and under first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d , and elastic bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  are positioned such that funnel  40  forms a seal about the breast so that breast milk may be expressed. When finished, funnel  40  is removed and latch  45   f  is hooked together in a conventional fashion so that first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d  are held together to support properly the wearer&#39;s breast. 
   When the wearer wishes to use brassiere  20  for expressing breast milk from one breast (cup  25  will be used in this example but the operation for cup  26  is identical), latch  25   f  ( FIG. 4 ) or  45   f  ( FIG. 6 ) is separated and a funnel  40  is inserted between and under first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d . In this position, elastic bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  solely support the funnel in its expressing position. The elastic force of bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  maintain the seal created between funnel  40  and the wearer&#39;s breast. When the wearer activates the pump (not shown), suction is created in the direction of arrow S ( FIG. 1 ) that draws breast milk from the wearer&#39;s nipple into funnel  40  (direction of arrow M) and deposits the expressed breast milk in container  50 . Thus, rather than holding the funnel to her breast, the wearer is free to do other activities. 
   When the express process is completed, funnel  40  is simply removed from under first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d , and elastic bands  25   c   1  and  25   d   1  are positioned such that first latch element  25   f   1  becomes secured to second latch element  25   f   2 . In this manner, first portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d  are held together to properly support the wearer&#39;s breast. First portion  25   c  and second portion  25   d  may be formed of a suitably flexible, relatively thin material, such as Spandex, lace, or loosely knit cotton. 
   Similarly, the wearer may express her breast milk from both breasts simultaneously. In this configuration, the wearer positions funnel  40  within cup  25  and another funnel within cup  26 . This method allows the woman to express breast milk more efficiently. That is, the wearer can express twice the milk in the same amount of time, while still having her hands free to do other things. 
   Of course, brassieres may be constructed such that only one cup is constructed to accept a funnel. Therefore, a brassiere may have one cup that is constructed in a manner known in the art and one (either cup  25  or cup  26 ) constructed as described above. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.