Abstrict A nursing bra comprised of two cups with an outer pocket/flap in
each cup for holding a thin circular heating/cooling device in place.
This pocket is a full piece of fabric with an opening at the upper
center portion of the garment that holds the heating/cooling device
in place. The heating/cooling device provides relief from engorgement,
plugged ducts, mastitis and other general nursing pain. There is
also a rear panel comprised of two cups with openings in each cup
for nursing a baby. The front and rear panel coexist, forming a
supportive and comfortable bra. The removable front, outer panel
is connected to the rear panel at the base, which allows for the
upper portion of the front panel to be lowered allowing the nipple,
and surrounding area of the woman's breast to be exposed for nursing.
Claims I claim:
1. A nursing bra for supporting a pair of breasts, said bra comprising:
a pair of bra cups, each of said bra cups comprising: an inner flap
of material; an outer flap of material entirely coextensively covering
said inner flap of material; said outer flap of material attached
to said inner flap of material; said outer flap exposing one of
said breasts when detached from said inner flap of material; means
for securing said bra to and over said breasts; at least one pocket
being in contact with at least one of said breasts, said pocket
covering essentially the entire breast; and at least one heating/cooling
element, said heating/cooling element being receivable within said
pocket, said heating/cooling element being entirely separated from
direct contact with said breast by said pocket.
2. The nursing bra according to claim 1 further comprising a pair
of pockets, each of said pockets being affixed to one of said bra
cups and being in contact with one of said pair of breasts, each
of said pocket covering substantially one of the entire breasts.
3. The nursing bra according to claim 2 wherein each of said pockets
is affixed to a respective outer flap of material.
4. The nursing bra according to claim 3 wherein said pockets are
integrally formed with said outer flap of material.
5. The nursing bra according to claim 2 further comprising a pair
of heating elements, each of said heating/cooling elements being
receivable within one of said pockets, each of said heating/cooling
element being entirely separated from direct contact with said breast
by said pocket.
6. The nursing bra according to claim 1 wherein said heating/cooling
element comprise a a thin, circular element.
7. The nursing bra according to claim 1 wherein said heating/cooling
element is movable within said pocket.
8. A nursing bra for supporting a pair of breasts, said bra comprising:
a pair of bra cups, each of said bra cups comprising: an inner flap
of material; an outer flap of material entirely coextensively covering
said inner flap of material; said outer flap of material attached
to said inner flap of material; said outer flap exposing one of
said breasts when detached from said inner flap of material; a pocket
connected to said outer flap of material, said pocket being in direct
contact with said breast, said pocket covering essentially the entire
breast; means for securing said bra to and over said breasts; and
at least one heating/cooling element, said heating/cooling element
being receivable within one of said pockets, said heating/cooling
element being entirely separated from direct contact with said breast
by said pocket.
9. The nursing bra according to claim 8 further comprising a pair
of heating/cooling elements, each of said heating/cooling element
being receivable within one of said pockets, each of said heating/cooling
element being entirely separated from direct contact with said breast
by said pocket.
10. The nursing bra according to claim 8 wherein at least one of
said pockets is integrally formed with one of said outer flaps of
material.
11. The nursing bra according to claim 8 wherein said heating/cooling
element comprises a thin circular element.
12. A nursing bra for supporting a pair of breasts, said bra comprising:
a pair of bra cups, each of said bra cups comprising: an inner flap
of material; an outer flap entirely coextensively covering said
inner flap of material, said outer flap of material attached to
said inner flap of material, said outer flap exposing one of said
breasts when detached from said inner flap of material, said outer
flap comprising an exterior piece of material and an interior piece
of material; a pocket being formed by said exterior piece of material
and said interior piece of material, said pocket being in direct
contact with said breast, said pocket covering essentially the entire
breast; means for securing said bra to and over said breasts; and
at least one heating/cooling element, said heating/cooling element
being located within one of said pockets, said heating/cooling element
being entirely separated from direct contact with said breast by
said pocket, said heating element evenly heating/cooling said breast.
13. The nursing bra according to claim 12 further comprising a
pair of heating/cooling elements, each of said heating/cooling elements
being located within one of said respective pockets, each of said
heating/cooling element being entirely separated from direct contact
with said breast by said pocket.
14. The nursing bra according to claim 13 wherein said heating/cooling
elements are removable from said pockets.
15. The nursing bra according to claim 12 wherein said heating/cooling
element is a thin, circular element.
16. The nursing bra according to claim 12 wherein said heating/cooling
element is movable within said pocket.
17. The nursing bra according to claim 12 wherein said heating/cooling
element is a gel substance, said gel substance forming a non-freezable
material.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to nursing bras for women, more specifically
a bra that provides support, and also has a pocket to hold a heating/cooling
device in place over the breast. This pocket is a full piece of
fabric that acts as a shield/barrier between the heating/cooling
device and the breast of nursing mothers.
2. Description of Related Art
The current state of the art provides numerous types of bras for
use while nursing infants. Such bras have been patented to Alberts
(U.S. Pat. No. 2679048) and La Rue (U.S. Pat. No. 2121088) and
one issued to Strauss (U.S. Pat. No. 206906) for a corset that
allows for breast feeding. Patent issue to Mattson (U.S. Pat. No.
1094158) and Fowler (U.S. Pat. No. 5326305) both disclose garments
with moisture shields to protect from leakage of lacteal fluids.
Also, the patent issued to Weber-Unger (U.S. Pat. No. 4164228)
is for a pad to be used with a nursing bra. A patent was given to
Raimondo (U.S. Pat. No. 6659841), which has a pocket positioned
over each bra cup and secured to the inner surface of the cup. This
pocket overlays approximately one-half of the inner surface, but
does not cover any part of the opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6464717
"Bra with hot/cold inserts," describes a vest that can
be worn over a person's chest. However, this product does not direct
the heating/cooling element to the necessary placement as defined
by a woman's breast, and is not advantageous to be worn as a nursing
bra.
While these references, specifically those having a removable absorbent
pad, have helped women manage problems dealing with leakage, they
do not necessarily address much of the pain and discomfort a woman
may experience. It is common for women nursing infant children to
experience general pain associated with nursing and engorgement,
plugged ducts, and/or mastitis. Such periods can be extremely painful.
To help ease this pain, medical professionals have recommended applying
heat or cool compresses to the affected breast respectively. It
would be beneficial to provide a nursing bra that would ease such
pains.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention expands the prior art by allowing a nursing
mother to apply heat or cold to their breasts without having to
hold the device in place. This invention would allow a quick, convenient,
inconspicuous way of holding a reusable heating/cooling device on
the breast while other activities are performed.
An object of the present invention is to provide a woman's supportive
undergarment.
An additional object provides a comfortable area for nursing without
having to remove the undergarment.
Another object is to provide an area for a heating/cooling pad
to be placed and held securely in the bra by a pocket to relieve
pain from nursing, engorgement, plugged ducts, and mastitis.
Finally, object contains a full piece of fabric that acts as a
barrier between the heating/cooling device and the breast.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of nursing bra in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a sectional front perspective view of the nursing
bra of FIG. 1 showing an individual cup.
FIG. 3 is a side view of a nursing bra in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective of an opened individual cup for a nursing
bra in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the nursing bra of FIG. 1
in an open position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable
those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical
embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which
may be embodied in other specific structures. Like parts are referred
to with like reference numerals. While the preferred embodiment
has been described, the details may be changed without departing
from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
FIG. 1 shows a nursing bra 10 having a pair of bra cups 12 that
support a pair of breasts 14. A pair of straps 16 are attached to
a respective cup 12 for securing said bra 10 to and over said breasts
14. It should be understood that the bra 10 could be in other shapes
and forms as known in the art for nursing bras and still fall within
the scope of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 2 one of the bra cups 12 is shown in a detached
position. A latch, clasp, or other similar device 18 is removed
from a locking member 20. The locking member 20 is located on an
inner flap 22 of material and the latch is located on an outer flap
of material 24. The arrangement of the latch 18 and the locking
member 20 could be switched and still fall within the scope of the
present invention. The inner flap 22 could be of any size or shape
as desired for a specific bra shape. The outer flap 24 has an exterior
flap of material 26 and an interior flap of material 28 that form
a pocket 30. The pocket 30 holds a heating/cooling element 32.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show further views of one of the bra cups 12. The
heating/cooling element 32 sits within the pocket 30. As shown in
FIG. 3 the heating/cooling element 32 preferably is centered within
the pocket 30 around the nipple 34 of the breast 14. Preferably,
the heating/cooling element 32 should cover most of the breast 14
to evenly reduce any pain or discomfort of the breast 14 while still
protecting the breast 14 from any potential injury from the heating/cooling
element 32. The interior piece of material 28 prevents the heating/cooling
element 32 from coming into direct contact with either the breast
14 or the nipple 34. This is an advantage over the prior art by
providing the necessary relief in a comfortable manner.
FIG. 5 shows the bra 10 in a open position and is used to illustrate
that either of the bra cups 12 may be attached. Further the heating/cooling
element 32 or heating/cooling elements 32 are shown in phantom to
further emphasize that the heating/cooling elements 32 are protected
from the breasts 12 by the interior piece of material 28 which
is beneficial for the comfort of the wearer.
The heating element 32 preferably a round shape and thin, with
a gel substance, that does not freeze completely but will cool when
necessary. Other devices, such as heating/cooling beads may be used.
Preferably the element 32 is not visibly noticeable when worn.
The present invention has an additional piece of fabric that acts
as a pocket for a heating/cooling device and a barrier that covers
the entire breast. Due to leakage, these other products have a hole
for the absorbent pad to have direct contact with the nipple. Therefore
it would be unnecessary for these other bras to hold the heating
cooling device because there would be direct skin to product contact,
which would be uncomfortable for the wearer. Similarly, it would
be unpractical for this invention to be used to hold an absorbent
pad, because there is no hole and nothing to remove if leakage were
to occur.
The present invention has several advantages over the prior art.
The bra 10 accurately places heat to the entire desired area (breast
or breasts), whereas prior vest arrangements may cover just a portion
due to varied body shapes. Since the bra 10 is sized to fit the
breasts 12 it will always cover the intended area. Also, the bra
10 allows you to feel the full effect of the warmth or cold because
it is not placed over cloths or an undergarment and can be worn
discreetly in public. Since the heating elements 32 may be located
in separate pockets, a wearer can keep one side in place while nursing
on the other, and will not get in the way when trying to nurse an
infant, which would be more comfortable, since a nursing bra is
constantly worn.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not
desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described,
the details may be changed without departing from the invention,
which is defined by the claims.
|