Year: 1896

page_text: 1, KATHARINE PARKER GARDNER, Gentlewoman, of 2 Manor Way, Bexley, in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a breast protector to be used during the period of
nursing a child. It is well known to doctors and nurses that during this time there
is great risk of the mother catching cold in her breasts, and to obviate this danger
I have devised the following:-
This device which I will call "The nursing mother's breast protector" is more or
less of the shape of an ordinary chest protector, being intended to cover the body
from throat to waist. In suitable positions I make two slits, to one side of each of
which is attached by stitching or otherwise a flap, in order to completely cover the
slit when not in use. This flap is so made as to lie flat without any fastening being
required to hold it down, as a button or other fastening would be apt to bruise the
breasts. While nursing the child this flap is folded back out of the way, thus not
interfering with the child receiving proper nourishment.
This protector may be made of any suitable material, say for example a plain
suitably shaped piece of flannel, and may be lined or not as desired, any suitable
fastening devices being employed, and the whole protector finished off by binding
with ribbon or the like.
This protector may also be used as a milk absorbent, by making the flaps double,
one side being left open to form a pocket, into which may be inserted antiseptic
cotton faced with oil silk, which may be easily removed and replaced when
necessary. The whole protector, being only intended to cover the front, can
likewise be easily removed and a fresh one brought into use without any
trouble.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
KATHARINE PARKER GARDNER.
I, KATHARINE PARKER GARDNER, Gentlewoman, of 2 Manor Way, Bexley, in
the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a breast protector to be used during the period of
nursing a child. It is well known to doctors and nurses that during this time there
is great risk of the mother catching cold in her breasts, and to obviate this danger

page_text: I have devised an appliance such as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein
Figure 1 is an elevation of one example thereof, and
Figure 2 a perspective view partly in section, of an alternative construction of
-one of the flaps hereinafter referred to.
The breast protector is more or less of the shape of an ordinary chest protector,
being intended to cover the body from throat to or towards the waist; and it
possesses the great advantage that it can be put on and taken off as readily as an
apron, without necessitating the removal of the dress bodice. In suitable positions
I make two slits A A¹ (Figure 1) to one side of each of which is attached by
stitching or otherwise a flap B, in order to completely cover the slit when the latter
is not in use, in the manner iudicated by the flap over the slit A. Each flap is so
made as to lie flat without any fastening being required to hold it down, as a button
or other fastening would be apt to bruise the breasts. While nursing the child
this flap is folded back out of the way, like the flap adjacent to the slit A' thus not
interfering with the child receiving proper nourishment.
My protector may be made of any suitable material, say for example a plain
suitably shaped piece of flannel and may be lined or not as desired, any suitable
devices being employed to hold it in place, and the whole protector finished off by
binding with ribbon or the like, which is shown at Ċ in the accompanying
drawing.
The protector may also be used as a milk absorbent by making the flaps double
as shown in Figure 2, one side B¹ being left open to form a pocket, into which may
be inserted antiseptic cottou or other absorbent material B2 backed with oil silk B³,
which may be easily removed and replaced when necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what [
-claim is :-
1. A breast protector having one or more slits or openings provided with flaps
adapted to lie flat over the slits or openings when not in use.
2. The combination with a breast protector of a flap such as B substantially as
described.
3. The combination with a breast protector of one or more flaps adapted to
receive an antiseptic or other absorbent filling substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The breast protector substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of January 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.