Patent Publication Number: US-2019183188-A1

Title: System, method and apparatus for maternity garment

Description:
This application claims priorty to and the benefit of U.S. Prov. Pat. App. No. 62/599,159, filed Dec. 15, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application generally Mates to garments and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for a garment for breast milk pumping and/or nursing. 
     STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Maternity garments are items of clothing designed to facilitate breast milk nursing or the pumping of breast milk from one or both breasts. Existing maternity garments use either a single point fastener (e.g., a button), overlapping layers of cloth, or a zipper with a single slider. Some maternity systems use the term “discreet” to refer to the style of the garment and the access locations. In contrast, this disclosure refocuses the emphasis on the woman herself and the comfort of her exposure, with regard to the term “discreet.” 
     Current maternity designs do not provide women with adequate options to nurse or pump, or to be as discreet as they desire while musing or pumping. Improvements and features are needed to provide both discreet and easier to use access for women. In particular, when nursing women are away from home, such as in work environments, many desire garments that do not require partial garment removal or unnecessary exposure to other areas of the body such as the torso, back or shoulders. While nursing or pumping, many women also do not prefer garments that are noticeably styled as maternity garments. Additionally, women commonly desire garments with highly versatile, adjustable features to accommodate the unique body types of women, as well as the physiological changes of breasts throughout the postpartum timeline when women&#39;s endocrine systems are unbalanced. This condition and process is known as breast ptosis. See, e.g., http.//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20354434/. Various stages and types of breast ptosis are depicted in  FIG. 9 . When using a pump, it also would be desirable for a maternity garment to be able to close around a portion of the pump to enable a hands-free experience. 
     Many maternity garments are designed to be functional with little regard to form in a professional working environment, such as in business formal, business casual, contemporary style, or uniforms for first responders, medical or military personnel, flight attendants, postal workers, waitresses etc. Maternity garments that do accommodate form and functionality are generally cost prohibitive for many consumer, and/or not durable for extensive use. Accordingly, maternity garments that offer highly adjustable and adaptable closure systems incorporated into the garment styles to permit hands-free pumping while maintaining subtle and discreet access to the body continue to be of interest. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for a maternity garment are disclosed. For example, the maternity garment can include a garment body having a garment torso with a neck opening, arm openings and a front. The front can include a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment, Each closure system can include a zipper comprising a zipper backing secured to the garment body. A zipper seam comprising zipper teeth that are closed on each end of the zipper seam can define two closed ends for limiting the range of motion of two sliders secured to the zipper teeth. Each slider can have a zipper pull. The two sliders can be configured for independent manual positioning along the zipper seam. The two sliders can be configured to comprise a closed position wherein the sliders substantially abut each other and provide substantially no opening therebetween. The two sliders also can have variable open positions wherein the sliders are configured to be spaced apart from each other at selected distances to provide respective openings therebetween for nursing and or pumping by the wearer. The garment can provide adaptability for women who are breastfeeding and experiencing breast ptosis. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of these embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the embodiments are attained and can be understood in more detail, a more particular description can be bad by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. However, the drawings illustrate only some embodiments and therefore are not to be considered limiting in scope as there can be other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of a maternity garment with selected components enlarged and isolated for detailed views. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic front left view (from the perspective of the woman) of an embodiment of a maternity garment configured for hands-free breast pumping. 
         FIGS. 3-5  are front views of embodiments of maternity garments depicting vertical, diagonal and horizontal access systems, respectively. 
         FIGS. 6-8  are side views of embodiments of maternity garments demonstrating the adjustability of access systems in central, upper and lower positions, respectively. 
         FIG. 9  depicts conventional images of various stages and types of breast ptosis. 
     
    
    
     The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIGS. 1-8  depict embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for maternity garments. For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates a garment  31  comprising a dress. Although a dress is shown, the garment  31  could comprise many other types of clothing, such as a blouse, t-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or uniform formed from any desired material. The garment  31  can include an overall garment body having a garment torso  32 , a neck opening  34 , arm openings  36  and a front  38 . Other garment configurations such as those known in the art also can be employed. 
     Versions of the garment  31  can include one or more closure systems  30 . Although garment  31  is shown with two closure systems  30 , one adjacent each breast of a wearer of the garment  31 , more or fewer closure systems  30  can be included. Each closure system  30  can be reversibly concealed on the garment  31 , such as with folds, pleats, etc., in the garment  31 , when the wearer of garment  31  wishes to conceal the closure systems  30  from view relative to the exterior of the garment  31 . In other versions, the garment  31  can be configured such that the closure systems  30  are not concealed and are externally visible and accessible at all times. 
     Embodiments of each closure system  30  has a closure mechanism, such as a zipper baying a closed ends system with two closed ends  33 ,  35 . The zipper also ran include dual-zipper sliders or two sliders  37 ,  39 . The closed ends  33 ,  35  limit the range of movement of the sliders  37 ,  39 , respectively, beyond the zipper. The sliders  37 ,  39  have zipper pulls  41 ,  43 , respectively. The zipper pulls  41 ,  43  and the portions of the closure system that the user holds to slide the sliders  37 ,  39 , respectively, along the zipper. The zipper also has zipper teeth  45 , which are the fasteners of the closure system. In addition, the zipper backing  47  affixes to the garment, such as an inner portion of the garment  31 . The size of the opening (whether small or large) desired between the sliders  37 ,  39  can be manually and selectively manipulated by the wearer of the garment, up to about the length of the zipper seam. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a garment  131  can comprise a blouse. In this example, garment  131  has two closure systems  30 , each comprising a vertical zipper with two closed ends and dual-sliders, as described above for  FIG. 1 . Breast pump  16 L, is a conventional breast pump as is known in the art, and includes an attachment accessory or born  18 L shown in position as it would be coupled to the left breast of the user of garment  131  during operation. Closure system  30 L shows the zipper with sliders  37 ,  39  close to horn  18 L so as to closely confirm the garment  131  thereto on the user&#39;s left side. Each zipper slider  37 ,  39  rests comfortable and snugly against the horn  18 L of the breast pump  16 L, after the horn  18 L extends through the opening formed by closure system  30 L of the garment  131  to couple to the breast of the wearer of garment  131 . This design and configuration allows the breast pump  16 L to be supported and held in place by the closure system  30 L for hands-free operation of the breast pump  16 L. A similar configuration is shown for breast pump  16 R and its horn  18 R, for the closure system  30 R on the right side of garment  131 , for the user&#39;s right breast. 
       FIGS. 3-5  depict several other embodiments of garments  231 , each having two closure systems  30 , or one for the proximate location of each breast of the wearer of garment  231 . For example, in  FIG. 3 , the two closure systems  30  are arrayed vertically. In  FIG. 4 , the two closure systems  30  are arrayed diagonally, while in  FIG. 5  the two closure systems are arrayed horizontally. Other configurations, such as multi-directional, also can be provided to enable the wearer with different options for comfort, ease of functional use, and more options for style. 
       FIGS. 6-8  illustrate how the closure system  30  can be selectively actuated to accommodate breast ptosis and different positions on a garment. These utilitarian designs for the garment can enhance comfortable positioning for users and increase the available discretion of users of the garments while using breast pumps. For example,  FIG. 6  depicts the breast pump  16  positioned near the center of closure system  30 . With the horn  18  extending through the opening provided by the manually-positioned sliders  37 ,  39  of the closure system  30 , the upper closed or zippered portion  51  and the lower closed or zippered position  53  are about the same length. 
     In  FIG. 7 , however, the user prefers that the breast pump  16  and its horn  18  be located nearer the upper end of closure system  30 . In this example, the user prefers to elevate the horn  18  of breast pump  16  to extend through the opening provided by the manually-repositioned sliders  37 ,  39  of the closure system  30 . Here, the upper zippered portion  55  is shorter in length than the lower zippered portion  57 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the user prefers that the breast pump  16  and its horn  18  be located nearer the lower end of closure system  30 . Here, the horn  18  is further repositioned to extend through the opening provided by the sliders  37 ,  39  of the closure system  30 . The upper zippered portion  59  is now greater in length than the lower zippered portion  61 . Each of these examples (and others) provide the user with hands-free operation of the breast pump  16  when it is supported by the highly adaptable closure system  30 . 
     The embodiments disclosed herein can have a number of advantages over conventional designs. For example, the dual-sliders of the concealed, closed ends zipper system allows the wearer to adjust the location of the opening along the length of the zipper seam. This design is conducive to a wider range of body types, or even the same body type as physiological changes occur postpartum. This utility and versatility allows the wearer to make more comfortable, flexible and precise adjustments in more locations along the various optional directional lines of the closure system. The wearer can choose to have the opening(s) in the closure systems at any point along the seam of the dual-sliders zipper that is most desirable. 
     Garments disclosed herein can include clothing material with a first opening through the material, near a wearer&#39;s first breast and a second opening through the material near the wearer&#39;s second breast, as worn. The closure systems are provided to selectively open and close their respective openings. The first and second closure systems can each include zipper teeth, two closed ends, and two zipper pulls. These closure systems allow the wearer to quickly and easily gain access to their bra cup and/or breast and to reduce their exposure as much as desired while nursing or pumping without any partial removal of the garment or any other exposure of their body. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 9 , a woman who is breastfeeding a child or breast pumping can experience different levels or stages of breast ptosis. The garments disclosed herein are highly suitable for enabling wearers who have breast ptosis to adjust the closure systems in the garments to their level or grade of breast ptosis, without unduly adjusting a position of the garment being worn by the wearer. For example, a method of accommodating for breast ptosis can include: 
     providing a maternity garment comprising a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to and reversibly expose at least portions of breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment; 
     adjusting the closure systems to accommodate a first grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis; 
     breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis (for example, see the upper setting in  FIG. 7 , and compare to one of the grades depicted in  FIG. 9 ); 
     adjusting the closure systems to a subsequent, second grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis; and then 
     breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis (see the middle setting in  FIG. 6 , for example, and compare to a subsequent grade depicted in  FIG. 9 ). In addition, the lower setting depicted in  FIG. 8  could be used for a third grade of breast ptosis, such as one of the latter grades depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
     Other versions can include one or more of the following embodiments. 
     1. A maternity garment, comprising: 
     a garment body having a garment torso with a neck opening, arm openings and a front, the front comprising a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment; each closure system comprising: 
     a zipper comprising a zipper backing secured to the garment body, a zipper seam comprising zipper teeth that are closed on each end of the zipper seam to define two closed ends for limiting the range of motion of two sliders secured to the zipper teeth, each slider has a zipper pull, the two sliders are configured for independent manual positioning along the zipper seam, wherein the two sliders are configured to comprise a closed position wherein the sliders substantially abut each other and provide substantially no opening therebetween, and variable open positions wherein the sliders are configured to be spaced apart from each other at selected distances to provide respective openings therebetween for nursing and or pumping by the wearer. 
     2. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each of the closure systems is configured to be reversibly concealed from external view on the maternity garment when not in use by the wearer during nursing or pumping. 
     3. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each closure system is configured to support and hold a breast pump in place for hands-free operation of the breast pump by the wearer. 
     4. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a generally vertical direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer, such that the sliders can be positioned near an upper end of the closure system to provide an upper opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the upper end, the sliders can be positioned near a center of the closure system to provide a center opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the center, and the sliders can be positioned near a lower end of the closure system to provide a lower opening for the wearer to nurse or pump near the lower end. 
     5. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a vertical direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     6. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a diagonal direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     7. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein each closure system is configured to extend in a horizontal direction when the maternity garment is worn by the wearer. 
     8. The maternity garment of any of these embodiments, wherein the maternity garment is configured to accommodate breast ptosis for the wearer. 
     9. A method of accommodating for breast ptosis, the method comprising: 
     providing a maternity garment comprising a pair of closure systems configured to be located adjacent to and reversibly expose at least portions of breasts of a wearer of the maternity garment; 
     adjusting the closure systems to accommodate a fast grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis; 
     breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the first setting for the first grade of breast ptosis; 
     adjusting the closure systems to a subsequent, second grade of breast ptosis of the wearer, such that that the closure systems are set at a second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis that differs from the first setting; and then 
     breastfeeding or breast pumping in the maternity garment through the closure systems at the second setting for the second grade of breast ptosis. 
     1. The method any of these embodiments, wherein adjusting the closure systems comprises moving two zipper sliders for each closure system along a respective zipper seam to a different vertical elevation to accommodate different grades of breast ptosis. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and also to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and can include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities can be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed. 
     In the foregoing specification, the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of invention. 
     It can be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term “communicate,” as well as derivatives thereof, encompasses both direct and indirect communication. The term “discreet,” as well as derivatives thereof, references to the amount of skin exposed by a user of the garment, rather than the type of style of the garment. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, can mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used, and only one item in the list can be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and c, B and C, and A and B and C. 
     Also, the use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise. 
     The description in the present application should not be read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is an essential or critical element that must be included in the claim scope. The scope of patented subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Moreover, none of the claims invokes 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) with respect to any of the appended claims or claim elements unless the exact words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim, followed by a participle phrase identifying a function. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that can cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims. 
     After reading the specification, skilled artisans will appreciate that certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, can also be provided in Combination in a simile embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, can also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, references to values stated in ranges include each and every value within that range.