Patent Publication Number: US-6659841-B2

Title: Nursing bra

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     There are numerous nursing bra designs which have attempted to provide a sanitary environment for the breast feeding of newborn children and in order to ensure for the cleanliness of the mothers&#39; outer apparel, as well as of the bra itself. Other nursing bra designs have sought to allow a measure of convenience to the mother, by permitting her to nurse her child without the need to remove the entire bra. 
     For instance, the bra disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,989,382 provides for an absorbent pad which is positioned within the bra cup near the nipple area, to absorb excess milk flow and prevent soiling of clothing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,273 also discloses the use of a pad, in this case placed within a removable section of the bra which must be detached from the main body of the bra when nursing is desired. By this design, the mother&#39;s blouse or shirt must be substantially removed in order to begin nursing. 
     Neither of these representative patents, nor any prior nursing bra design is especially convenient to the nursing process. Prior nursing bras do not function without compelling the mother to partially disrobe or unhook or detach all or part of the bra. This results in difficulty during nursing, both for the mother and the infant, who may be distracted and bothered by detached clothing. The sanitary nature of the process is also compromised, as is the increased likelihood that the mother&#39;s clothing and the bra itself will become wet and stained. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of prior nursing bras. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which provides the nursing mother and her infant child a sanitary environment during the nursing process. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which provides the nursing infant ready and unencumbered access to the mother. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which allows the nursing mother an easy, convenient and comfortable means to nurse her child. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which allows use of the bra without the need of the mother to disrobe or remove the bra. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which allows the bra to be used without unhooking, detaching, or disconnecting the bra in any manner. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which can be designed to readily accommodate different nipple configurations, locations and sizes and allow for varied nursing positions. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which can be adopted for use with a variety of bra to body attachment and support means. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which can be combined with a variety of backless and strapless designs, to allow the user to wear fashionable dresses and blouses. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nursing bra which will avoid leakage and staining and fading of clothing caused by moisture during nursing. 
     The objectives outlined above and many others are accomplished by the nursing bra of the present invention which comprises a pair of bra cups formed as a single, molded layer, each cup having a inner surface and an outer surface. An opening extends between the inner and outer surfaces of each cup at the location of the wearer&#39;s nipples. Each cup has a pocket positioned over and secured to the inner surface of the cup. The pocket overlays approximately one-half of the inner surface, but does not cover any part of the opening. An absorbent, replaceable nursing pad is positioned and retained within each pocket. The pad serves to cover the opening when in place in the pocket, but is removable from the pocket when nursing is completed. This nursing bra configuration is readily adaptable for use with a variety of bra to body attachment and support means. The design obviates the need for flaps attached with snaps or hooks and thus facilitates unobstructed nursing. In addition, backless and strapless designs allow the user to wear the bra with fashionable dresses and blouses. 
    
    
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. However, both as to their design, construction, and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, they are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows the front view of the nursing bra of the present invention without the nursing pads inserted in place. 
     FIG. 2 shows the front view of the nursing bra of the present invention with nursing pads inserted and positioned to be inserted in place. 
     FIG. 3 shows the rear view of the nursing bra of the present invention with nursing pads inserted and positioned to be in place. 
     FIG. 4 shows a front view of the nursing bra of the present invention in use with a detachable back strap and shoulder straps. 
     FIG. 5 shows a front view of the nursing bra of the present invention in use as a strapless bra. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Nursing bra  1  comprises bra cups  2  and  4 , each formed as a single layer, preferably of molded material construction which is known in the art. Cups  2  and  4  are secured to bra panel  6  by sewed connection  8  and  9  respectively, or by other commonly used means. Underwire supports  5  and  7  are provided for cups  2  and  4 . Bra  1  is shown in FIG. 4 with standard back straps  10  and  12 , to be secured by hook and eye connection  14  and  16 . FIG. 5 shows bra  1  being used with a strapless connection, secured by hook and eyes  14  and  16 . However, it is contemplated that the nursing bra configuration described herein can be used with a variety of bra to body attachment and support designs. Such designs further include, but are not limited to, bras with clear back bands, bras with detachable straps, and bras without a back or straps, using short side wing or tab sections  17  and  21  and adhesive pads  15  and  19 , such as is shown as seen in FIG.  3 . 
     Bra  1  of the present invention comprises cup  2  inner surface  18  and outer surface  20  with opening  22  extending therethrough. Cup  4  has inner surface  24  and outer surface  26  with opening  28  extending therethrough. Pocket receptacle members  30  and  32  are secured at their lower edges by sewed connection  31  and  33  or similar means, to inner surfaces  18  and  24  respectively. Pockets  30  and  32  are open at their top edges to receive absorbent nursing pads  34  and  36 . Pockets  30  and  32  are configured to overlay approximately one-half of inner surfaces  18  and  24 , but are positioned such that openings  22  and  28  at all times remain uncovered by the pockets. 
     Absorbent nursing pads  34  and  36 , made of cotton or other moisture absorbing material, are configured to be inserted into pockets  30  and  32  respectively. When in place, pads  34  and  36  completely cover openings  22  and  28  and so cover and comfortably protect the wearer&#39;s nipples, since it is the soft, cotton interior surface of the pads which comes in contact with the breast. Outer surfaces  38  and  40  of pads  34  and  36  comprise a thin layer of soft, impermeable, pliable, plastic or plastic-like material to prevent leakage from the cotton absorbent material of the pads through to the wearer&#39;s clothing. Pads  34  and  36  are designed to be disposable and are to be replaced when they become saturated, stained, or lose absorbency. Alternatively pads  34  and  36  may be of washable material, so they can be reused. The pliable plastic material which is used on surfaces  38  and  40  is also used for protective rims  42  and  44 , which surround openings  22  and  28 . Rims  42  and  44  are designed to keep the cloth area of cups  2  and  4  dry and to prevent staining during the nursing process, when residual moisture may come through openings and leak onto the outer surface of the cups. Any moisture on plastic rims  42  and  44  can readily be wiped cleaned. 
     It is further contemplated that the size of openings  22  and  28  is large enough not to restrict nursing and to accommodate different nipple configurations, sizes and locations. The shape of the openings can also be varied to accommodate different nursing positions. 
     In use, bra  1  is normally worn with nursing pads  34  and  36  in place within pockets  30  and  32  of cups  2  and  4 , respectively. When nursing is desired, the mother&#39;s nipple may be exposed simply by removing either of pads  34  and  36 . No unhooking, detaching, or disconnecting of bra  1  or any apportion thereof is necessary. The infant is able to nurse directly from the nipple, without any encumbrances or obstacles presented by detachable sections of the bra and, since they do not cover openings  22  and  28 , without interference from pockets  30  and  32  or any other part of the bra. Plastic or plastic-like rims  42  and  44  prevent excess milk from the breast or moisture from the child to drip onto and wet or stain the bra cups. 
     After nursing is completed, nursing pads  34  and  36  are reinserted into their respective pockets  30  and  32 . The soft, cotton material inner sections of pads  34  and  36  absorb excess moisture from the nipple, while plastic outer surfaces  38  and  40  prevent any leakage or moisture from going through the pads to clothing. 
     Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.