Patent Publication Number: US-2018049483-A1

Title: Breastfeeding apparel with concealable openings

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to women&#39;s apparel. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to women&#39;s apparel capable for use while breastfeeding, nursing of babies, or using a lactation pump or breast pump. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     Although women have been breastfeeding for centuries, for many new mothers in the modern era, breastfeeding can be uncomfortable, awkward, and intimidating. For many mothers, especially working women, nursing may occur outside of the privacy of one&#39;s own home. At the office, a restaurant, a coffee shop, or any other public place, nursing mothers need to transition their wardrobe to clothes that provide easy access to the breasts for nursing. Clothes particularly for nursing have attempted to make this transition less cumbersome and allow for access to the breasts. For instance, low-cut shirts, wrap shirts, tanks, button-down shirts are often used, but they provide minimal coverage. Some nursing tops also have a flap over each of the breasts or form an opening between layers of the shirt that create an opening, but because of their structure these tops can often lead to undesired and unintended exposure. These shirts or dresses with similar openings are often worn when nursing. Nursing bras provide suitable coverage with a flap or other closure, but require the mother to undress from at least the waist upwards in order to expose the bra and may be cumbersome. There is a need in the art for apparel for nursing women that provides easy access to one or both breasts while minimizing the risk of unintended or undesired exposure of the breasts. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. 
     The present disclosure, in one embodiment, describes garments adapted for breastfeeding and nursing. A garment comprising: an upper bodice layer; and a lower bodice layer connected to the upper bodice layer by at least one seam and having at least one nursing access point, wherein the upper bodice provides substantially full coverage of the at least one nursing access point when the at least one access point is in a normal position. In one embodiment, the at least one nursing access point is an armhole in the lower bodice layer with a flexible edge. In one embodiment, the flexible edge of the armhole is stretched under tension to a nursing position. When the tension is released, the flexible edge of the armhole returns to the normal position. In some embodiments, the flexible edge may be lined with silicone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of one embodiment of a top in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a back view of the top of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a layered front view of the top of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of one embodiment a dress in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the back view of the dress of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a layered front view of the dress of  FIGS. 4-5 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view of one embodiment of a dress in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention in a first position. 
         FIG. 8  shows a front view of one embodiment of a dress in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention in a second position. 
         FIG. 9  shows a front view of one embodiment a dress in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows the back view of the dress of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  shows a layered front view of the dress of  FIGS. 9-10   
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous garments for breastfeeding women. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous concealable openings or access points in women&#39;s tops, shirts, tunics, dresses, and similar garments. 
       FIGS. 1-3  shows one embodiment of a top  100  of the present invention. Top  100  may be a shirt, tunic, or dress depending upon the length of the garment. The top  100  comprises an upper bodice layer  102 , a lower bodice layer  104 , a first sleeve  106 , a second sleeve  108 , and a back layer  110 . Each of the upper bodice layer  102 , the lower bodice layer  104 , the first sleeve  106 , the second sleeve  108 , and the back layer  110  may each comprise cotton, polyester, cotton polyester blend, other suitable fabrics and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the upper bodice layer  102  may comprise a neckline  112 , a hemline  114 , sleeve seams  116  connecting the upper bodice layer  102  to each of the sleeves  106 , and shoulder seams  118  to connect the upper bodice layer  102  to the back layer  110 . The neckline  112  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. The hemline  114  may be straight, ruffled, or have other configurations. In at least the embodiment shown, the hemline  114  is ruffled. The upper bodice layer  102  substantially covers the bust. 
     In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lower bodice layer  104  may be positioned underneath the upper bodice layer  102 . In at least one embodiment, the lower bodice layer  104  comprises the at least one access point shown generally at  120 . The upper bodice layer  102  substantially covers the lower bodice layer  104 , in particular the at least one access point shown generally at  120 . In at least one embodiment, the upper bodice layer  102  fully covers the at least one access point when the at least one access point  120  is in a normal position. The upper bodice layer  102  may cover the at least one access point  120  when the at least one access point  120  is in a nursing position. 
     In at least one embodiment, the lower bodice layer  104  may be the breastfeeding layer. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lower bodice layer  104  may comprise a neckline  122 , a hemline  124 , arm openings  126 , and shoulder seams  128  to connect the lower bodice layer  104  to at least one of the upper bodice layer  102  and the back layer  110 . In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the neckline  122  of the lower bodice layer  104  may be the same as the neckline  112  of the upper bodice layer  102 . In such embodiments, the neckline  122  may further comprise a neckline seam  123 . The neckline  122  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. In some embodiments, the hemline  124  of the lower bodice layer  104  may be the same as the hemline  114  of the upper bodice layer  102 . The hemline  124  may be straight, ruffled, or have other configurations. In at least the embodiment shown, the hemline  124  is ruffled. In at least the embodiment shown, a distance between the hemline  124  to the neckline  122  of the lower bodice layer  104  may be longer than a distance between the hemline  114  to the neckline  112  of the upper bodice layer  102 . The circumference of the arm openings  126  may in some embodiments be larger than the arm openings of the sleeves  106 , 108  or the sleeve seams  116 . The arm openings  126  each have an edge  127 , which may be a flexible edge. In at least one embodiment, the flexible edge comprises a silicone material or other similar elastic or elastomeric material. The edge  127  may be expanded from a standard armhole position to a nursing position. The circumference of the arm opening  126  in the nursing position is larger than the circumference of the arm opening  126  in the normal position. In the nursing position, the arm opening  126  is large enough to provide access to the breast (including the nipple region of the breast) for the woman to either nurse her baby or use a nursing pump, while still having her arm pass through the arm opening. In at least one embodiment, in the nursing position, at least a portion of the edge  127  surrounds a portion of the entire breast. In at least one embodiment, the edge  127  stays in an expanded position in the nursing position under tension and when tension is released, the edge returns to its unexpanded, standard armhole position. This hidden layer with the flexible edge along the armhole allows the woman to nurse with coverage from the upper bodice layer without having her breasts susceptible to undesired exposure when not nursing. 
     In some embodiments, the first sleeve  106  and the second sleeve  108  are each connected to at least the upper bodice layer  102  at sleeve seams  116 . The first sleeve  106  and the second sleeve  108  are also connected to the back layer  110  at sleeve seams  116 . The second arm  108  is connected to the first bodice layer  102  and the second bodice layer  104 . In at least one embodiment, the first sleeve  106  and the second sleeve  108  may not be directly connected or in a seamed connection to the lower bodice layer  104 . Each of the first sleeve  106  and the second sleeve  108  form armholes, which are different from the arm openings  126  of the lower bodice layer. 
     The back layer  110 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , may comprise a neckline  132 , a hemline  134 , sleeve seams  136 , and shoulder seams  138 . In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the neckline  132  may be the same as at least one of the neckline  122  of the lower bodice layer  104  and the neckline  112  of the upper bodice layer  102 . The neckline  132  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. In some embodiments, the hemline  134  of the back layer may be the same as the hemline  124  of the lower bodice layer  104 . The hemline  134  may be straight, ruffled, or have other configurations. In at least the embodiment shown, the hemline  134  is ruffled. In some embodiments, the lower bodice layer  104  is further attached to the back layer  110  at or near the armholes or the shoulder seam  138  or both. 
       FIGS. 4-6  show an embodiment of a garment  200  of the present invention. The garment  200  may be a dress, top, shirt, or tunic. The garment  200  comprises at least an upper bodice layer  202 , a lower bodice layer  204 , a skirt  206 , a waist panel  208 , and a back layer  210 . The dress  200  may, in some embodiments, further comprise sleeves (not shown). Although shown as a dress in  FIGS. 4-6 , it is contemplated that the dress may not have the skirt  206  and would instead be a top with some or all of the features described herein, including the upper bodice layer, the lower bodice layer, the waist panel, the back layer and the access points. Each of the upper bodice layer  202 , the lower bodice layer  204 , the skirt  206 , the waist panel  208 , and the back layer  210  may each comprise cotton, polyester, cotton polyester blend, other suitable fabrics and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the upper bodice layer  202  may comprise at least a neckline  212 , a hemline  214 , arm openings,  215 , side seams  216 , and shoulder seams  218 . The neckline  212  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. The neckline  212  may be attached to the lower bodice layer  204  in some embodiments. The shoulder seams  218  and side seams  216  connect the upper bodice layer  202  to the back layer  210 . In some embodiments, the upper bodice layer  202  and the back layer  210  may be formed as a single layer of material, and the shoulder seams  218  and the side seams  216  are not necessary in such embodiments to connect the upper bodice layer to the back layer. The hemline  214  in some embodiments is flexible. In some embodiments, the hemline  214  comprises a silicone material or other similar elastic or elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the silicone material can be encased in tubular fabric. The hemline  214  may be tucked into the waist panel  208  when the garment is in a normal tucked position. The normal tucked position can also be considered a standard position as discussed above. The waist panel  208  overlaps the upper bodice layer  202  and the lower bodice layer  204 . In some embodiments, the waist panel  208  may be positioned in an empire waist position or a drop waist position or some other position on the bodice. In some embodiments the waist panel may have one or more flexible edges that may comprise a silicone, elastomer or other elastomeric material. 
     The lower bodice layer  204  may be positioned underneath the upper bodice layer  202 . The lower bodice layer  204  has at least one access point  220 , and in a preferred embodiment, two access points. Access points  220  are openings in the lower bodice layer  204  that expose the breast or the nursing bra of the woman. In some embodiments, the upper bodice layer  202  substantially covers the lower bodice layer  204 , in particular the at least one access point  220 . In at least one embodiment, the upper bodice layer  202  fully covers the at least one access point  220  when the at least one access point is in a normal tucked position. The upper bodice layer  202  may cover the at least one access point when the at least one access point is in a nursing position  220 . When the woman wishes to nurse, she can remove the upper bodice layer  202  from the waist panel  208  and stretch the hemline  214  from a normal tucked position to a nursing position to expose the access points  220 . In the nursing position, the hemline  214  may be under tension. Otherwise, when the upper bodice layer  202  is in a normal tucked position and tucked into the waist panel  208 , the breasts are not exposed. Having the upper bodice layer adjustable from a secured tucked position to a nursing position allows the woman to nurse without having her breasts susceptible to undesired exposure when not nursing. 
     In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lower bodice layer  204  may comprise a neckline  222 , side seams  226  and shoulder seams  228 . Side seams  226  and shoulder seams  228  may, in some embodiments, connect the lower bodice layer  204  to at least one of the upper bodice layer  202  and the back layer  210 . In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the neckline  222  of the lower bodice layer  104  may be the same as the neckline  212  of the upper bodice layer  102 . In such embodiments, the neckline  122  may further comprise a neckline seam  123 . The neckline  222  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. In some embodiments, the lower bodice layer  204  may be joined to the skirt  206 , which has a hemline  224  of the lower bodice layer  104 . The hemline  224  may be straight, ruffled, or have other configurations. In at least the embodiment shown, the hemline  224  is ruffled. In at least the embodiment shown, the distance from the hemline  224  to the neckline  222  of the lower bodice layer  204  may be longer than the distance from the hemline  214  to the neckline  212  of the upper bodice layer  202 . 
       FIGS. 7-8  show an embodiment of garment  300  of the present invention, which is shown as a dress. In at least one embodiment, the dress  300  has a bodice portion  302  extending from the waist  304  to the shoulder seam  306 , covering the bust region  308 . The dress  300  also has a skirt  308  extending from the waist  304  to the hemline  310 . In at least one embodiment, the bodice has princess seams  312 , which extend at least from the waist  304  to the bust region  308 , but in some embodiments may extend from the hemline  310  to the bust region  308  as shown in  FIGS. 7-8 . The princess seams  312  each have a zipper  314 , which extends from the waist  304  to the top of the princess seam  312 . The zipper  314  provides a nursing access point  320  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The zipper  314  comprises at least a zipper pull  316 . When the zipper  314  is in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 7 , the zipper pull  316  is positioned at the waist. Because of the lines of the dress including the princess seams, the zipper pull appears to be for a pocket, and the nursing access point is hidden. When the zipper  314  is in an open, nursing position as shown in  FIG. 8 , the zipper pull is at the top of the princess seam  312  revealing one nursing access point  320 . Nursing access points  320  are defined by openings  322 , which may be lined with some flexible material to expand the opening. In some embodiments, the zipper may have some flexible tape or other flexible components in order to allow the opening to expand. As shown, the dress  300  has two zippers  314  and one or both may be used at a time to reveal one or two nursing access points  320 . Having the zippered access to the nursing access points allows the woman to nurse without having her breasts susceptible to undesired exposure when not nursing, while also concealing the openings. Further, the zippers provide the visual appearance of pockets, based on their placement. 
       FIGS. 9-11  shown an embodiment of garment  400  of the present invention. The garment  400  may be a dress, top, shirt, or tunic, but as shown comprises a dress. The garment  400  comprises at least an outer layer  402 , a breastfeeding layer  404 , and a back layer  406 . The garment  400  may, in some embodiments, further comprise sleeves (not shown). Each of the outer layer  402 , the breastfeeding layer  404 , and the back layer  406  may each comprise cotton, polyester, cotton polyester blend, other suitable fabrics and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the outer layer  402  may comprise at least a neckline  412 , a hemline  414 , arm openings  415 , side seams  416 , and shoulder seams  418 . The neckline  412  may be round, square, boatneck, sweetheart, v-neck, or have other configurations. In at least the embodiment as shown the neckline  412  forms a cowl neck. In at least one embodiment, the neckline  412  is a stretchable neckline. The shoulder seams  418  and side seams  416  connect the outer layer  202  to the back layer  406 . In at least one embodiment, the arm openings  415  may have an edge, which may be a flexible edge. In at least one embodiment, the flexible edge comprises a silicone material or other similar elastic or elastomeric material. 
     As shown best in  FIG. 11 , the breastfeeding layer  404  may be positioned underneath the outer layer  402 . The breastfeeding layer  404  when placed in a first position relative to the outer layer  402 , the woman&#39;s breast or breasts may be exposed in a nursing position. In at least one embodiment, the breastfeeding layer may comprise a stretchable material. In at least one embodiment the breastfeeding layer may have at least one edge, which may be a flexible edge. In at least one embodiment, the flexible edge comprises a silicone material or other similar elastic or elastomeric material. 
     The garments discussed herein are generally described with respect to tops, shirts, tunics, and dresses. However, it is contemplated by the invention that any of the multi-layered embodiments described herein can be modified for use in jackets, sweatshirts, sweaters, undergarments, loungewear, and other apparel. 
     As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is generally no measurable effect thereof. 
     In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.