Patent Publication Number: US-7895668-B2

Title: Nursing apron

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a nursing apron for a breastfeeding mother. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a nursing apron of the type which includes a blanket and fixing means arranged to fix ends of the blanket to each other when the blanket is wrapped around a mother&#39;s upper torso. However, such a nursing apron often results in breasts of the mother being at least partially exposed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nursing apron for a breastfeeding mother, said apron comprising:
         a blanket of sufficiently large size to wrap around an upper portion of the mother&#39;s torso whilst the mother is breastfeeding a baby; and   fixing means arranged so as to retain the blanket around the mother&#39;s torso;   the fixing means including the first fixing means disposeed on the blanket at a first end portion of the blanket, and the complementary second fixing means disposed on the blanket at second end portion of the blanket and engageable with the first fixing means, the locations of the first and second fixing means being such that when the first and second fixing means are engaged to each other, the first and second end portions overlap to a sufficient degree during use that a substantial portion of the mother&#39;s upper torso including the mother&#39;s breasts are not exposed whilst the mother is breastfeeding a baby.       

     In one arrangement, the first fixing means is disposed immediately adjacent a first inner edge of the blanket, and the second fixing means is spaced from a second inner edge of the blanket by a sufficient distance so that the first and second end portions overlap when the first fixing means is engaged with the second fixing means. 
     In one embodiment, the blanket includes a neck portion disposable adjacent a neck of a mother during use, and the fixing means are remotely disposed relative to the neck portion such that during use when the first fixing means is engaged with the second fixing means, the blanket is loosely disposed relative to a neck of the mother so that the mother is able to see the baby whilst the baby is breastfeeding. The fixing means may be disposed substantially centrally relative to the first and second end portions. 
     The blanket may be of generally U-shaped configuration and may include a cut out portion defined by the neck portion and the first and second edges, the cut out portion being of sufficient size to receive a neck of a mother during use. 
     In one arrangement, the fixing means comprises first and second complimentary press stud portions, a hook/eye fixing device, or any other suitable fixing device capable of securely fixing ends of the blanket together in a releasable way. 
     The blanket may be formed of polycotton material, cotton material, or any other suitable opaque or translucent material. 
     The blanket may also include a bias binding which may be in the form of piping, the bias binding serving to assist in maintaining the shape of the blanket during use and during washing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic plan view of a nursing apron in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of the nursing apron shown during use wrapped around an upper torso of a mother. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings, there is shown a nursing apron  10  which includes a blanket  12 , in this example of generally U-shaped configuration, and fixing means for fixing the blanket  12  in position around an upper torso of a breastfeeding mother during use. 
     In the present example, the blanket is formed of polycotton or cotton material, although it will be understood that any suitable opaque or translucent material is envisaged. 
     The fixing means is in the form of first fixing means  14  attached to the blanket  12  at a first end portion  20  of the blanket, and second complementary fixing means  16  attached to the blanket  12  at a second end portion  22  of the blanket. The first and second fixing means are attached to the blanket at locations such that during use, when the blanket is wrapped around a breastfeeding mother and the first and second fixing means are engaged with each other, the first and second end portions  20 ,  22  of the blanket overlap by a sufficient distance so that during use the mother&#39;s breasts are not exposed. For this purpose, the first fixing means  14  is disposed immediately adjacent an inner edge  24  of the blanket  12 , and the second fixing means  16  is disposed at a location spaced from a second inner edge  26  of the blanket. 
     In this example, the fixing means comprises a hook portion  14  and an eye portion  16 , although it will be understood that other suitable fixing means are envisaged, such as complimentary press stud portions. 
     The first and second fixing means  14 ,  16  are disposed generally centrally relative to first and second end portions  20 ,  22 . By disposing the first and second fixing means  14 ,  16  remotely relative to a neck region  28  of the blanket in this way, it will be understood that, during use, when the first and second fixing means are engaged with each other the blanket  12  is loosely disposed relative to a neck of a breastfeeding mother so that the mother is able to see her baby whilst the baby is breastfeeding. 
     In this example, the blanket is provided with a bias binding in the form of piping (not shown) which extends around a periphery of the blanket  12 . The piping serves to assist in maintaining the shape of the blanket during use and during washing. 
     During use, prior to commencing breastfeeding, a mother first wraps the blanket around her upper torso such that the neck region  28  is adjacent a rearwardly facing part of the mother&#39;s neck and the first and second end portions  20 ,  22  are at the front. The mother then uses the fixing means to fix the blanket together. Since the first and second end portions  20 ,  22  overlap to a significant degree, no gaps are present between the first and second end portions  20 ,  22  at a region adjacent the mother&#39;s breasts and the mother&#39;s breasts are not exposed whilst breastfeeding. 
     It will also be understood that although the mothers breast&#39;s are not exposed during breastfeeding, the mother is nevertheless able to see her baby because the blanket  12  is relatively loosely held around the mothers neck. 
     Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.